Fat Envelopes for Judgement: Corruption Is Systemic, Judiciary Not Exempt — Kunle Edun, SAN
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Kunle Edun, SAN, has argued that corruption in Nigeria is a systemic problem that has deeply permeated governance and administration, including the judiciary.
Reacting to the controversy stirred by NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, Edun noted that while allegations of judicial corruption are painful, they should not be dismissed outright because of the central role the judiciary plays in holding the country together.
He explained that the tragedy of corruption in the justice sector lies in the fact that every individual and institution depends on the judiciary for justice, fairness, and stability.
Speaking to Vanguard Newspapers, Edun lamented that justice is increasingly perceived as being rationed along lines of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, and other extraneous considerations rather than the merits of cases.
He described corrupt judges and their collaborators within the legal profession as “mistakes” and called for urgent reforms, particularly in the recruitment and appointment process to the bench.
According to him, appointments should be based strictly on merit, warning that politicisation, quota considerations, and the need for connections have compromised the foundation of the judiciary and produced predictable outcomes.
