Nigerian judges and magistrates received the highest amount of bribes among public officials in 2023, surpassing the police, customs, and military personnel, according to a report by the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The NBS report on corruption patterns and trends in Nigeria ranked judges first among collectors of cash bribes, with an average bribe amount of NGN 31,000.
The NBS report released on Thursday stated, “There are large variations in the size of bribes paid by citizens, according to the types of public officials who receive them,”
“Among all types of public officials for which there was sufficient data, with an average of NGN 31,000, the largest cash bribes were paid to judges and magistrates, followed by customs or immigration service officers (NGN17,800) and members of the armed forces (NGN16,600).”
“By contrast, much smaller average amounts were paid to doctors, nurses and midwives (NGN 6,000), public utility officers (NGN 4,600) and other health workers (NGN 2,900),” it added.
The survey also records a staggering N721 billion in bribes collected by Nigerian public officials, adding, “Average cash bribe paid in Nigeria in 2023 amounted to NGN 8,284.”
This report uncovers a troubling hierarchy of corruption within Nigerian public institutions, particularly within the judiciary.
This revelation follows recent comments from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, who lamented that the judiciary is no longer the hope of the common man, but “it is also, or majorly now, the last hope of the big shots.”
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This revelation comes after recent comments from Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, who lamented that the judiciary is perceived as corrupt, stating, “the judiciary is no longer the hope of the common man, but “it is also, or majorly now, thr last hope of the big shots.”
In 2023, retired Justice Muhammad Dattijo also condemned the judiciary as corrupt in his valedictory speech, highlighting public disillusionment with court officials and judges.
Dattijo stated, “It has been in the public space that court officials and judges are easily bribed by litigants to obviate delays and or obtain favourable judgements.”
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