Sanitising The Bench: Burden NJC Must Bear To Save Judiciary—Lawyers

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…Say There Should Be No Place For Erring Judges
…Insist Independent Body, Not Executive, Should Appoint Judges, CJN

LAGOS – Barrister Olalekan Ojo, a human rights lawyer and an advocate of social justice, has said that the pattern of questionable High Court rulings, many already overturned by the Court of Appeal with pointed language, represents a systemic integrity crisis that strikes at the very soul of Nigerian democracy.

Ojo, the Managing Partner, Plat­inum & Taylor Hill LP, one of Nige­ria’s leading law firms, said that as Nigerians march towards 2027 gen­eral elections, a compromised judi­ciary is not merely an institutional embarrassment, it is a democratic emergency.

Speaking with Sunday Indepen­dent on allegations of compromise by some High Court judges, and the clear indictment of some members of the High Court Bench by the Court of Appeal, Ojo said the Na­tional Judicial Council (NJC) must act with unprecedented decisiveness to restore the im­age of the judiciary, especially at this critical period.

Ojo stated: “Every judge whose ruling has been judicial­ly criticised for apparent bias, perversity, or political moti­vation must face immediate, transparent, and independent investigation.

“Where compromise is es­tablished, retirement is insuffi­cient, prosecution must follow. Judicial corruption is a crime against every Nigerian who ever sought justice.

“The NJC must establish a dedicated Pre-Election Integrity Unit that monitors, investigates, and sanctions electoral-related judicial misconduct in real time. Anonymous reporting channels for lawyers and court staff must be activated immediately.

“Beyond sanctions, the NJC must randomise case assign­ments through auditable com­puterised systems, eliminating forum shopping, the cancerous practice through which litigants purchase predetermined

outcomes by selecting com­pliant judges.

“The judiciary’s legiti­macy is Nigeria’s last democratic guardrail. The NJC must defend it, fearlessly, transparently, and without political interference or history will hold it accountable for democracy’s failure.”

Barrister Kenneth Udeze, the National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA), said the allega­tions of compromise by some High Court judges are a serious threat to democracy, especially as we approach 2027 general elections.

Udeze, whose political party, the Action Alliance (AA), is one of the five which got a reprieve from the Court of Appeal after Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja High Court Division had or­dered their deregistration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), stated that when the Court of Appeal sets aside rulings of lower courts, it points to a need for urgent self-cleansing.

“The National Judicial Coun­cil (NJC) must act swiftly and de­cisively,” he advised.

Udeze said: “The NJC should immediately set up an indepen­dent panel to investigate all judges mentioned in adverse appellate judgments and public petitions.

“Those found culpable must face severe sanctions, including dismissal and prosecution, to serve as deterrence.

“Beyond punishment, the NJC must strengthen pre-elec­tion case assignment protocols, enforce stricter asset declara­tions, and ensure transparency.

“A clean, courageous and independent Judiciary is the last hope of the common man. Anything less will erode pub­lic trust and endanger our 2027 elections.”

Barrister Blessing Joseph Afang, a human rights activist, said the Nigeria’s Judiciary, long regarded as the last hope of the common man, faces a credibility crisis.

Afang, President, the Inter­national Human Rights Pro­tection Service Florida, USA, Nigeria Chapter (IHRPS/F), stated: “Allegations of compro­mise against some High Court judges, coupled with Court of Appeal rulings overturning questionable judgments, raise troubling questions about integ­rity of the Bench.

“These are questions the Na­tional Judicial Council (NJC) can no longer ignore. The NJC must move beyond reactive dis­cipline to structural reform.

“It should fast-track inves­tigations into flagged judges through its Code of Conduct Committee, with strict time­lines, rather than indefinite sus­pensions, and publish outcomes for transparency.

“Appointment and promotion processes must prioritise integ­rity over seniority or patronage, backed by asset declaration au­dits for judges handling sensitive cases.

“With 2027 elections ap­proaching, the NJC should prioritise scrutiny of benches handling electoral litigation, since public trust in judicial ad­judication is central to prevent­ing post-election unrest.”

Barrister Emeka Iheonu, a Lagos-based, said the NJC should be directly responsible for the appointment of Judges via the Judicial Service Commis­sion (JSC).

“Judges salaries, emolu­ments, welfare, trainings, etc, should be handled by the NJC. Financial autonomy for the Ju­diciary via the NJC should be provided for statutorily.

“The Executive should hands off the appointment of the CJN who is the statutory head of the NJC. Alternatively, some retired Supreme Court Justices should be nominated by the NBA and their names sent to the Nation­al Assembly out of which one should be made the Chairman of the NJC for a specific number of years.

“The NJC should immediate­ly terminate the appointment of any Judge who is proven to have given a wrong judgment.”