Judicial corruption threatens Nigeria’s 2027 elections
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Businessday
Nigerian lawyers and political actors believe suspected judicial corruption could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections. Academic Benjamin Okaba is calling for urgent measures against pre-election manipulation and interference in the resolution of disputes, Businessday reports.
As Nigeria’s 2027 general elections approach, lawyers, academics, politicians and civil society actors have warned that suspicions of corruption within the judiciary could undermine the credibility of the vote and confidence in democratic institutions. Professor Benjamin Okaba, an academic and former president of the Ijaw National Congress, has called for urgent action, Businessday reports.
Participants fear that pre-election manipulation, impunity during voting and post-election instability could be worsened by a compromised electoral judiciary. Benjamin Okaba called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Nigerian Bar Association, anti-corruption agencies and civil society organisations to protect the integrity of judicial proceedings. He also called for compliance with the statutory 180-day deadline for ruling on election petitions.
Stephen Adewale, a former chairman of the Social Democratic Party in Ondo State, said the electoral judiciary must rule on the basis of evidence and the law, rather than financial influence. Lanre Ogunsuyi, a political analyst and former Information Commissioner in Ekiti State, warned that doubts about the impartiality of rulings could weaken acceptance of the results and trigger disputes.
The calls follow statements by retired Supreme Court justice Amina Adamu Augie about corrupt practices involving judges, lawyers and court officials. They were reported in an article on corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary, published on 24 October.
