CORRUPTION no doubt has been seen by all Nigerians, as the nation’s major enemy that must be destroyed and wiped out from the surface of our beloved nation. We have strongly condemned corruption and continue to do so yet almost on daily basis Nigerians are inundated with media reports of allegations of high level acts of corruption.

Our houses of worship and even our respected  men and women of God no longer command the respect of their members except for fear, they pretend to do so, so as not to incur the wrath of God that may be invoked against them. Our media houses have also not been spared the allegation of corruption, aiding and abetting looting and stealing of public funds.

As if this is not worrisome enough, judges in our courts and top officials of anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have also come under serious attacks and condemnation from the Nigerian people. These institutions and their personnel are accused of fraud, money laundering, bribery or stealing and looting of public funds, the same offences they are constitutional empowered to prevent and or prosecute. Every profession in Nigeria has also come under same accusation. Corruption pervades all nooks and crannies, so it appears today, may be the reason President Buhari is reported to be telling the whole world that Nigerians are very corrupt.

My concern in all of this is not to join in the attacks and condemnations of our respected justices or officials of the anti-graft agencies but rather to x-ray the reason(s) some of our respected justices and officials of anti-graft agencies are caught in this same web. Our  judges are not aliens, they are human beings and Nigerians like every one of us in all respects. They desire all the good things of life as we also desire. They are Nigerians from Nigerian families. They are Nigerians like us who also come under pressure from families, friends and associates to discharge one form of responsibility or the other, some of the responsibilities money must provide. They buy from the same markets as we all do; they pay the same high cost for goods and services as we do. They are paid salaries and allowances in naira and in some cases they are even paid far less.

While some Nigerian workers, politicians and political appointees who stay few hours and carry out far less tasking assignments are provided with lavishly furnished offices, most of our judges are provided with dilapidated court rooms and offices often without ceiling fans working efficiently. The courtrooms are sometimes compared only to an oven during hot weather condition leaving our judges sweating profusely and helping themselves with improvised hand fans to cool off. In some cases when it becomes very unbearable the courts are forced to adjourn for the day.

It is my candid suggestion that we rather encourage them by providing the best we offer any Nigerian (private or public servant) and to provide them with maximum security cover during and after retirement. They must not lack the basic needs and comfort of life even after their retirement. They must continue to be celebrated, honoured and cared for during and after retirement.

Wealth of knowledge

Those that have excelled in any given legal year must be shortlisted for National Merit Awards and be celebrated by the media and civil society organisations. Their wealth of knowledge and experiences should always be tapped by creating special legal advisory council for the Federation and States and they be appointed into such to continue to guide the younger judges.

Finally, the methods of appointment of Nigerians as judges must be urgently reviewed to make it strictly the responsibility of the legal practitioners and judiciary. This method of the Executive and the Legislature being the critical part of their appointments is itself very corrupt and the basis for corrupting our judges. After all, he who pays the piper dictates the tune; hence our judges are today regrettably seen as appendages of the Executive arm of government. Judges are often at the beck and call of the president and governors to the extent that they even submit to being loyal to wives of these presidents and governors.

Is it not an insult for wives of our president and governors to publicly boast that they made the appointment and or promotion of some judges, particularly the females, possible in line with their so-called women empowerment programmes? Was it not in this country that we were informed that the appointment of the first female Chief Justice of Nigeria was made by a first lady in line with her women empowerment programme? Was this right?

By Igbini Odafe Emmanuel