Former Senator Akinyede: 'Only About 15% of Nigeria's Judiciary Is Clean'

Former Senator and lawyer Sola Akinyede has expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria's judiciary, claiming that only about 15 per cent of judicial officers remain untainted. In an interview, he described the judiciary as being in urgent need of reforms and called on the country's two most senior female legal leaders to spearhead efforts to restore public confidence in the justice system.

Akinyede said the emergence of women at the helm of both the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presents a unique opportunity to address longstanding challenges within the judiciary. He argued that their leadership could drive greater accountability, strengthen ethical standards and rebuild the integrity of the nation's judicial institutions.

The former senator also reiterated his longstanding call for structural reforms, particularly the reconstitution of the National Judicial Council, which he believes currently concentrates excessive powers in the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. According to him, the present structure has contributed to declining public trust and weakened judicial independence.

Akinyede urged the judiciary to take decisive action against corruption, judicial misconduct and abuse of court processes, insisting that restoring credibility to the justice system is essential for Nigeria's democratic development and the rule of law.