There are concerns over alleged undue adjournments and sharp practices among judges handling cases affecting Awaiting Trials (AT) inmates in Lagos high courts.

Stakeholders said the situation does not only work against the Federal Government’s policy of decongesting custodial centres, but also impinges on the rights of AT inmates, who are held unnecessarily because of their inability to pay bribes.

Lamenting, some awaiting trial inmates at Kirikiri Correctional Centre, Lagos, said undue adjournments and alleged unethical practices by some justices have resulted in untold hardships to their families.

They alleged that some judges are in the habit of not granting bail for bailable offences, except heavy bribes are paid through registrars

According to them, many inmates have their cases unduly delayed by judges without sanction by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

“There is a need for investigation into the alleged involvement of judges in debt recovery for self-help seekers who use the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to turn commercial transactions into criminal matters.

“Many defendants have been convicted and sentenced, with court registrars collecting bribes on behalf of judges, promising them freedom through bail, pending appeal; where the appeal court will route back the case to the same court to set bail conditions, with victims paying the exact amount for their freedom, without pursuing the appeal thereafter.

“Some judges also set sexual defendants free after taking bribes, while those who refuse or are unable to pay, attract severe prison terms ranging from 60 years to life imprisonment,” they said.

A source told The Guardian: “We have been sitting in a particular court in Ikeja since March 2023, with many awaiting trial inmates not attending or even knowing their adjournment dates. The court has remained under lock and key without a statement or apology offered to anyone.

“The court, presided by a female judge, has custody matters (awaiting trial) of between 10 and 15 years of bailable offence and yet has not reached judgement. She sits only three times in a year in many matters and gives four months adjournments in criminal/custody matters, contrary to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) direction,” he said.

The source alleged that the judge’s registrar boasted that he is of the judicial dynasty in Lagos State, and that nobody could touch him or dare make a noise.

He also alleged that judges are now under pressure to make criminal convictions at all costs.

“In some cases, judges and prosecutors are promoted based on criminal convictions achieved yearly, hence their penchant to convict by all means.

He called on the Chief Judge of Lagos State to embark on frequent visitations aimed at decongesting prisons.”

Reacting over long adjournments in courts, a registrar at Justice S. S. Ogunsanya’s court in Ikeja, said: “The honourable judge has been on national assignment all these while and that is why we have not been sitting.”

When asked about some court registrars negotiating bribes on behalf of their judges, he said: “I find this rather somehow…I think I don’t want to go ahead with this. You can talk to others.”

Another court registrar, Ridwan Oshodi, said: “I have heard that some judges ask for bribes but I have not seen one. It is wrong for a judge to collect bribes to give judgement.”

However, Principal Counsel at Kingsley Grays LP, Kingsley Uche Okoro, said in his 35 years in practice, he has not encountered any case where judges take bribes before granting bail.

He said: “I have had several applications both at the lower court and apex court, and I have never seen any judge behind that

“Courts grant me bail where the bail condition is satisfied but I can’t say what happens in the magistrates’ court. I am sure of what happens in the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and others, and I have never gone to see any judge.”

On promotion of judges, he said there are elements of industry which are taken into consideration, which include number of cases presided upon, the reputation in court, and if there has been a petition against the judge. But we are also in a country where merit and other things are considered.

Another lawyer, Victor Emeruwa, said it is not true that judges must convict at all costs to get promoted.

According to him, judges get promotions based on performance. He said so many things are involved. However, if a judge is not diligent, he cannot get a promotion.

On the issue of bribes, he said: “There is no area of life that is not corrupt. Personally, I have not bribed a judge before and I will not bribe a judge. I can’t come out to say judges are corrupt until I experience that personally. Some people who ask for money to be given to the judge do not even have access to the judge. No judge will demand money to grant bail. Bail is a right. The issue is that there must be a condition that must be attached to a bail.

“If there is any judge using his or her court registrar to take a bribe, then it should be blown open. People should come out. No judge will manufacture evidence.”

Another lawyer, who did not want his name in print, said: “I have heard that some judges take bribes before they give judgement but I have never experienced it. I have never bribed a judge.

“I am only aware that judges must give a number of judgments yearly to get promoted but I am not aware that a judge must have a number of convictions.”