Fight against corruption must address systems, not just individuals — NBA Chair

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe branch, Dr S.O. Jimoh, has described the term “judicial corruption” as mere name-calling, asserting that corruption is a systemic issue affecting all facets of society.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Dr Jimoh said that singling out the judiciary for corruption is misleading and unfair.

He confirmed the existence of unethical individuals within the judiciary, referring to them as “rotten eggs on the bench,” but pointed out that corruption is not unique to this arm of government.

He questioned why terms like Legislative Corruption or Executive Corruption are not equally emphasized, despite corruption being prevalent across all branches of government.

He argued that corruption exists globally, not just in Nigeria, noting that what differentiates countries is the effectiveness of their systems in curbing it.

While addressing claims of judicial corruption, Dr. Jimoh stressed the importance of separating the system from the individuals who operate within it. He added that the heightened scrutiny of the judiciary stems from its esteemed position in society.

He painted corruption as a deeply ingrained cultural problem in the country, asserting that no amount of legislation can eliminate it in Nigeria.

He said that chasing individuals who commit acts of corruption is a reactive approach that cannot solve the problem. Instead, he advocated for building systems that naturally deter corruption, urging a shift in focus from individual culpability to systemic reform.

“Among every twelve, there is always a Judas. Why is it that only the judiciary gets labelled this way, as though corruption is exclusive?

“No one in the world is entirely free of corruption. The difference lies in how societies control or checkmate corrupt tendencies.

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“An individual judge may be corrupt, but that does not mean the judiciary is corrupt. Corruption in the judiciary should not overshadow its critical role as the temple of justice.

“People expect perfection from the judiciary because of its role as the arbiter of justice. But we must remember that judges are also Nigerians, and like all of us, they are products of the same system,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria needs efficient systems that discourage corruption from taking root.

“In advanced countries, the system rejects corruption. In Nigeria, the system seems to enable it.

“Rather than labelling one arm of government as corrupt, we should work towards creating a society where corruption is difficult to thrive. It’s only through such proactive measures that we can address the root causes of this issue,” he stated.