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Lagos CJ Promises Swift Action in Fight Against Judicial Corruption

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke has promised full cooperation with Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary (FIACIJ), an advocacy group determined to root out corrupt practices in the judicial arm of government. She made this commitment at the formal launch of the FIACIJ’s campaign fliers, held at the Conference Room of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Thursday, January 18, 2018. The event was graced by other Judges of the High Court, staffers of the Lagos State Judiciary, and members of the Bar, among others.

NEWSWIRE Law & Events Magazine correspondent in Lagos reports that FIACIJ is the brainchild of Mr. Bayo Akinlade, a Lagos-based lawyer and member of the Ikorodu branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). In his opening remarks, Akinlade decried the unsavory reputation corruption has given Nigeria as a whole in the eyes of the world. This corruption, he asserted, was even more lamentable when seen in the judiciary, which is generally regarded, not only as the last hope of the common man but the bulwark of civilized society against the onslaught of barbarism. As the only arm of government operated solely by members of the legal profession, he said, the judiciary is under a spotlight as it strives to eradicate corruption within its ranks as a prelude to tackling its occurrence in the larger society.

In her response, Justice Oke reiterated the judiciary’s determination to its reform agenda –as encapsulated in her commitment statement and vision – to the letter. Quoting from the Bible and the Qur’an, which expressly condemned acts of corruption and perversity, Justice Oke made it clear that while the misconduct of a few – especially among support staff and others in the lower cadres of the judiciary – must not be misconstrued as a prevailing trend, bad eggs will henceforth be swiftly punished and shown the exit. While inviting lawyers and litigants to forward their petitions with all boldness, she said such petitions must however be devoid of malice or a desire to tarnish reputations. With characteristic passion, the CJ drew applause when she made a plea for a corruption-free judiciary in four Nigerian languages – Yoruba, Igbo, Egun and Hausa – to demonstrate her desire to see this campaign replicated in other jurisdictions outside Lagos.

To demonstrate the support FIACIJ’s campaign commands among the five branches of the NBA in Lagos State – namely, Lagos, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry – the chairman of the Ikorodu branch, Levi Adikwaone, noted the ‘uncommon impetus’ given to FIACIJ’s campaign by the enthusiastic support of the Chief Judge of Lagos State, and announced that his branch had just set up an anti-corruption committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Akinlade, the convener of this gathering. He urged all who would battle the hydra-headed monster of corruption to do with clean hands and a courageous spirit, as corruption would always fight back whenever it is challenged.

The highlight of the occasion was the formal presentation of over 20, 000 fliers detailing the ways in which to avoid corruption in the judiciary – as well as hotlines on which to report offenders, be they receivers or givers of illegal inducements and gratification in order to pervert the course of justice, or to speed up the process.

Receiving the fliers, the Lagos CJ commended Mr. Akinlade for his initiative, saying sometimes it took one person to start a movement, and urged all stakeholders to get on board in order to safeguard both the judiciary and the society at large for the welfare and security of our children and generations yet unborn.

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