The Body of Benchers (BoB) in Nigeria has fiercely rejected a recent corruption rating by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) that placed the judiciary among the most corrupt institutions in the country.
At a public function in Abuja on Monday, the Body, led by renowned legal expert Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, dismissed the findings as “unjust,” “unverified,” and “contentious.”
The NBS, in its report last month, utilized data from various sources to rate the Nigerian judiciary as highly corrupt. However, the Body of Benchers, in a strongly worded response, condemned the rating, urging all stakeholders in the judiciary to disregard the findings.
“We need not be unduly perturbed by the unjustified, unverified, and contentious data of corruption issued on the Nigerian Judiciary by the National Bureau of Statistics,” Chief Awomolo said. “It is unworthy of attention.”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s judiciary is composed of some of the country’s finest legal minds, who uphold justice without any price tag attached. “I can attest to the fact that in the Nigerian judiciary are some of the finest characters and our best legal brains,” he added.
The event was attended by several notable figures, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun. Awomolo continued his defense of the judiciary, calling on Nigerians to recognize the value and integrity of judges and justices across the country.
“Our judges and justices are the greatest assets of our nation. We must continue to accord them the highest honour, respect, and dignity,” he said, urging for collective respect for the judiciary in the face of public scrutiny.
Awomolo also noted that the reputation of the judiciary is too important for it to be tarnished by baseless allegations. “The image of the judiciary is too important to a democratic society to allow it to be tarnished in any way by any act of impropriety by any members of the Bar or Bencher,” he stated.
In his address, Awomolo called for personal accountability, stating, “Now is the time when everyone should be made to account and be responsible for what is attributable to him.” He stressed that while accountability was necessary, the reputation of the judiciary should not be compromised by unfounded claims.
The Chairman also called for courage and focus among judges and justices, urging them to stand strong in the face of external challenges. “The Body of Benchers urges Judges/Justices to be bold, courageous, and focused. Rising from the judiciary introspection, there must be a recommitment to the best values of the judiciary as an independent arm of government,” he said.
Awomolo’s speech also touched on the importance of judicial independence and the need for courts to deliver fair judgments, regardless of the people or entities involved. “There must be a commitment where judgments will deliver justice irrespective of whosoever is concerned, where no one will be oppressed and where freedom and liberties of citizens are secured and protected,” he said.
The Body of Benchers’ call for judicial renewal comes at a time when the country’s legal system is under intense scrutiny. Awomolo expressed hope that the conference would inspire the judiciary to recommit to its values, strengthen its institutional role, and better serve Nigerians.
“It is the hope of the Chairman and entire members of the Body that this conference will ignite a renewal of wisdom from God, strength, and fulfillment to each and every justice of this Court and supporting staffs,” Awomolo said.
The event also included a tribute to the Court of Appeal, which serves as the first level of appeal for decisions from the High Courts across Nigeria. “This Court and the Supreme Court have contributed in every large measure to ensure that Nigeria as a nation enjoys constitutional stability, peace, prosperity, and progress as a country under God since 1999, when democracy fully returned,” Awomolo noted.
The theme of the conference, “Judicial Introspection,” was described by Awomolo as timely. He stated that every institution, including the judiciary, must reflect on its actions and identify areas for improvement. “The society is dynamic; the parliament is dynamic in promulgating laws. Judges are expected to cope with growing trends in technology and advancement in human global behavior,” he said.
In closing, Awomolo echoed the sentiments of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kekere-Ekun, who had earlier assured the nation that the judiciary would continue to serve as a pillar of constitutional democracy in Nigeria. “Let me remind everyone of the admonition of my Lord, Honourable Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, during the opening of the 2024/2025 legal year of the Supreme Court, that the judiciary under her leadership will remain the hope of the advancement of constitutional democracy,” Awomolo said.
