By Nkechi Eze
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International (TI), has expressed grave concern over what it described as the rising perception of corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the country’s anti-corruption crusade, democratic stability, and the rule of law.
In a strongly worded statement issued by its Executive Director and Head of Transparency International Nigeria, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), the organisation decried the negative impact of recent judicial rulings on the credibility of law enforcement agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). According to him, these agencies have expended significant time, effort, and resources in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases, only for such cases to be dismissed by the courts, thereby undermining the larger fight against impunity and corruption.
Rafsanjani pointed specifically to a series of controversial rulings by Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, which he said had dealt serious blows to Nigeria’s anti-corruption momentum. He cited several high-profile cases dismissed by the judge, including that of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, who was accused of misappropriating ₦22.8 billion; the case involving former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, despite testimony from former Minister of Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, alleging that ₦2.3 billion was delivered to Fayose in cash using private aircraft; and a $140,000 fraud charge against Abdullahi Babalele, son-in-law to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Other dismissed cases highlighted by CISLAC include the ₦322 million money laundering charge against Senator Peter Nwaoboshi and the ₦12.3 billion fraud allegation against the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko.
“These rulings cast a dark shadow over the integrity of our justice system and are reminiscent of the infamous case of former Delta State Governor James Ibori, who was acquitted in Nigeria but later convicted in a UK court on similar charges,” Rafsanjani noted. “No credible investor will place confidence in a system where judges are perceived to be shielding corrupt officials or engaging in judicial compromise.”
The CISLAC boss also called for enhanced financial scrutiny of judicial officers, suggesting that some judges may be living beyond their legitimate means. He urged the EFCC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and other relevant agencies to investigate the financial lifestyles of judicial officers, particularly in light of alleged luxury benefits, including choice property allocations purportedly facilitated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. According to him, such acts erode judicial independence and risk aligning the bench with political power structures.
CISLAC called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to urgently address issues of discipline, integrity, and transparency in the judiciary. Rafsanjani stressed that the NJC must not remain silent while public trust in the courts is being eroded. He further demanded that the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) enforce existing laws on regular and transparent asset declarations for all public officials, including judges and magistrates.
“The judiciary must rise above allegations of inducement and partisanship,” Rafsanjani stated. “Nigerians deserve a justice system that protects their rights and upholds the rule of law, not one that serves the whims of the powerful. If the judiciary fails, democracy and justice are both in peril.”
The statement concluded with a call for collective civic vigilance, urging citizens, the media, and civil society organisations to hold the judiciary to account and demand higher standards of transparency. “The time to act is now,” Rafsanjani warned, “before judicial credibility is irreparably damaged in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community.”
