Politicians Have Captured Nigeria’s Judiciary – Former NBA President, Akpata

The Immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata has blamed politicians for the corruption in the judiciary.

Akpata disclosed this at a panel session at the ongoing International Bar Association conference in the United States of America.

According to him, politicians took over the judiciary to have their grip on power.

He added that there is corruption in the judiciary with judges being offered bribes, according to a video posted online.

“Judiciary capture is no longer as brazen as it was before but it is insidious, and in my jurisdiction what happens is that from the point of view of appointment, the process is opaque. So people who are not supposed to be on the Bench, get to the Bench,” he said in the video.

“The judiciary is also starved of funds. There is no financial autonomy, so they have to run to the executive for everything including their salaries. They are poorly paid which impedes their ability to function properly.

“Thirdly, there is intimidation which includes raids on the homes of Judges by 11, 12 midnight. And lastly, there is corruption, where they are just offered bribes.

“The whole point is as a result of the desire by the politicians to use the judiciary as a tool for political contestation.

“Because politicians recognise that the way to political power now is the judiciary, they do everything to take over the appointment process, ensure the judiciary is not well paid, and make the system dysfunctional.”