ACCOMPLISH MAGAZINE NOV 2023

judges
the entire judicial system and
the society at large. Going by
consequential ethics, innocent
individuals are wrongfully
convicted and spend years,
or even decades, in prison for
crimes they did not commit,
while criminals of every shade
are set free and let loose on the
society.
*Public trust and confidence
in the judiciary is constantly
being eroded. People have
lost faith in the Nigerian legal
system, which have resulted in
the lack of cooperation with law
enforcement agencies and a
rise in vigilantism. Corrupt judges
perpetuate social inequality by
enabling wealthy or influential
individuals to evade justice, as
can be seen in recent cases in
Nigeria, thereby reinforcing the
notion that the law is not equal
for all. In fact, in Nigeria, the law
is further skewed to different
shapes depending on what part
of the country you come from.
Fighting
Corruption in the
Judiciary
To combat corrupt judges
and protect the integrity of the
legal system, several measures
must be taken:
*If the judiciary has lost its
independence, as intended
by the democratic system
due to political influence,
then an independent
body should oversee the
judiciary to investigate
allegations of corruption
and ensure accountability.
Judicial employees should
be encouraged to report
misconduct by judicial officers
and ensure that their protection
from retaliation is guaranteed.
Judges should be subject to
strict ethical guidelines and
financial disclosure requirements
to prevent conflicts of interest.
Public awareness must be raised
about the importance of an
independent and corruptionfree
judiciary. This can help build
a more vigilant and informed
society.
Conclusion
Corrupt judges who profit
from the miscarriage of justice
pose a grave threat to the
very foundations of the legal
system and the society. Their
actions erode public trust, lead
to wrongful convictions, and
perpetuate social injustices.
It is crucial to address this
issue through a combination
of independent oversight,
transparency, and public
awareness to ensure that
justice is served impartially and
without bias. Only through these
efforts can we hope to root
out corruption and protect the
fundamental principles of justice
and the rule of law. According
to Fukuyama in his book, Pillars
of Political Order, the rule of law
must be protected to prevent
political decay and social
disorder. Fukuyama further adds
that, political order is a delicate
balance that requires strong
institutions and a commitment
to the rule of law to prevent
the rise of authoritarianism,
corruption, and other challenges
to governance.
Victor
Olewunne,
AUTHOR BIO
Victor Olewunne, the
Ethicist, is a public affairs
analyst and Founder,
African Foundation
for Ethics and Social
Responsibility.
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Accomplish Magazine