In this piece, ADEOLA AKINBOBOLA writes about the need for the judiciary to uphold integrity and sustain public trust as the race for the 2027 elections gathers momentum.
As the 2027 elections approach, concerns about judicial integrity, electoral justice, and public trust in democratic institutions have continued to dominate national discourse.
Recently, stakeholders from government, civil society, the legal profession, and development organisations met to identify practical pathways to strengthen judicial accountability and restore confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
The two-day Strategic Review Meeting on Strengthening Citizen-Led Judicial Accountability through Coordinated Civil Society Action, convened by ActionAid Nigeria under its CiTi ACT Project, proved more than a routine stakeholder engagement.
It evolved into a platform for critical reflection on Nigeria’s judiciary, the future of electoral justice, and the role of citizens in driving institutional reforms.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice, members of the Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), the Coalition of Judicial Actors for Reform (COJAR), civil society organisations, legal experts, media practitioners, and governance advocates.
In her remarks, Mrs Suwaiba Dankabo, the Deputy Country Director and Director of Programmes at ActionAid Nigeria, said an independent, accountable, and responsive judiciary remained indispensable to democratic governance.
Dankabo stressed that citizens must be empowered to actively engage institutions, demand accountability, and participate in shaping governance outcomes.
She highlighted a growing recognition among governance experts that weak justice institutions undermine efforts to address broader societal challenges, including corruption, insecurity, human rights abuses, and electoral disputes.
“Dialogue alone cannot deliver reform. Lasting change requires coordinated action, sustained engagement, clear accountability mechanisms, and collective ownership of agreed priorities,” she said.
Why judicial accountability matters. Nigeria’s judiciary holds a unique position within the country’s democratic architecture.
Yet public confidence in the institution had fluctuated over the years, fueled by allegations of corruption, conflicting court orders, delays in the delivery of justice, and controversial election judgments.
The Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP) used the occasion to present an extensive set of recommendations to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to an IJAP member, Barrister Sechap Tsokwa, the concentration of multiple responsibilities in a single office creates accountability concerns and limited transparency.
He said that separating some of these responsibilities and creating deputy positions for court heads would improve institutional checks and balances within the judiciary.
Tsokwa also called for a more proactive National Judicial Council to discipline judicial officers who abuse their powers, particularly through the misuse of ex parte orders.
He proposed that judges with unresolved disciplinary complaints should not be appointed to election petition tribunals.
The recommendation also sought to ensure that only judicial officers with impeccable records adjudicate politically sensitive cases that often determine electoral outcomes.
He further proposed establishing an online whistleblowing platform for citizens to report judicial misconduct and unethical practices.
Tsokwa noted that technology could play a transformative role in promoting transparency and in strengthening public oversight of the judiciary.
