Odinkalu: Nigeria’s judicial system rewards compromise, punishes judges with integrity

Odinkalu

Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says Nigeria’s judicial system is structured to punish judges and judicial officers who insist on integrity.

Odinkalu spoke during an interview with journalist Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, where he painted a troubling picture of the country’s legal system.

He argued that the dysfunction within the judiciary affects not only judges but also lawyers and litigants.

“The dysfunctions in the system affect everyone—lawyers, clients, and judges,” Odinkalu said. “Judges who want to do things rightly are often punished.”

He added that judges who refuse to compromise frequently face reprisals, including redeployment to unsafe or undesirable locations, withdrawal of security details, and neglect of court infrastructure.

Odinkalu said these measures are designed to pressure upright judicial officers into submission and reinforce a culture where compromise is rewarded.

He cited the example of a former permanent secretary and solicitor-general in the ministry of justice of a south-east state who was allegedly retired after refusing a bribe from a senior politician close to the governor. Thecable