Obasanjo Alleges Deep Corruption in Nigeria’s Judiciary, Faults INEC Chairman

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised alarm over what he described as the “deep compromise” of Nigeria’s judiciary, accusing judges of turning the courts into avenues of corruption rather than justice.

Obasanjo made the assertion in his newly released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, published by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library. He lamented what he called the steady decline in the integrity of the judiciary from Nigeria’s early years to the present Fourth Republic.

“The reputation of the Nigerian judiciary has steadily gone down from the four eras up till today. The rapidity of the precipitous fall, particularly in the Fourth Republic, is lamentable,” the former leader wrote.

According to him, justice in Nigeria has become commercialised, warning that such a trend could plunge the country into disorder.

“The great fear of most well-meaning Nigerians and good friends of Nigeria is that where ‘justice’ is only available to the highest bidder, despair, anarchy, and violence would substitute justice, order, and hope,” he said.

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Citing a personal experience, Obasanjo recalled visiting a northern state a decade after leaving office, where he was told by a governor that a judge had built six duplexes from proceeds allegedly earned as chairman of election tribunals.

Beyond the judiciary, the former President also faulted the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Professor Mahmood Yakubu, accusing him of undermining electoral credibility since assuming office in 2015.

“No wonder politicians do not put much confidence in an election which the INEC of Professor Mahmood Yakubu polluted and grossly undermined to make a charade,” Obasanjo wrote.

The former Nigerian leader, who has consistently advocated for reforms in governance, warned that unless urgent steps are taken to restore integrity in the judiciary and electoral system, the nation’s stability could be at risk.