Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has lamented the report that an estimated $1.23 billion (approximately N721 billion) was paid in bribes to public officials in Nigeria in 2023, with a significant portion directed towards the judiciary.

According to the group, the figures highlight a persistent issue that demands urgent attention, especially given recent high-profile cases of judicial corruption, including alleged attempts to bribe judicial officials during election proceedings.

HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, noted that the integrity of the judiciary was at stake. He said effective strategies for transparency and accountability were key to addressing judiciary integrity in the country, saying that HEDA, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, would tackle the pervasive allegations of corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary in its fourth 37th Anti-Corruption Situation Room (ACSR).

Suraju noted the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders, including judicial leaders, civil society and government officials to address the systemic challenges.

“This ACSR will serve as a vital platform for dialogue and collaborative reform efforts. The event will not only assess the current state of judicial corruption but will also focus on developing actionable recommendations aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within the system,” Suraju stated.

He added that the key objectives of the conference included increasing understanding of the challenges faced by judicial officers, fostering engagement between academia and civil society, and collaborating with the newly appointed Chief Justice of Nigeria on the reform agenda.
Suraju explained that the conference was particularly timely given the alarming findings from the recent corruption survey conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and UNODC.

“The expected outcomes from the conference include a comprehensive understanding of judicial corruption, the formulation of reform recommendations, and strengthened partnerships among stakeholders to effectively combat corruption in the judiciary,” he said.

The conference scheduled for October 16 and 17 will have participants from legal scholars, judiciary leaders, anti-corruption advocates, government officials, and representatives from international organisations, will have the opportunity to engage in discussions on strategies to eliminate corruption and ensure that the judiciary remains a bastion of justice for all Nigerians.