Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has warned that Nigeria’s judiciary is losing credibility, posing risks to the nation’s stability.
He criticized corruption, political influence, and INEC’s leadership, calling the justice system a “commodity for sale.”
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed deep concern over what he described as the declining credibility of the country’s judiciary, warning that the situation poses grave dangers for Nigeria’s future.
In a recent statement, Obasanjo said the standing of the judiciary has deteriorated progressively across different eras, with the most alarming drop occurring in the current Fourth Republic. He argued that the once-respected institution has now become vulnerable to corruption and undue influence.
According to him, justice in Nigeria has increasingly been treated as a commodity, accessible only to those who can afford it. He cautioned that such a trend could breed frustration, disorder, and violence in society if left unchecked.
Sharing a personal encounter, the former leader recalled visiting a northern state a decade after leaving office. He claimed the state governor pointed to a row of duplexes allegedly built by a judge who chaired election tribunals, noting that the wealth was linked to the proceeds of judicial compromise.
Obasanjo also criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under its current leadership. He accused Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who has headed the commission since 2015, of corrupting the electoral process and eroding public confidence in elections. He described the system as having been reduced to a sham by mismanagement and manipulation.
