The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Ibrahim Tanko on Tuesday lamented that the judicial arm of government under his watch had been infested by corrupt and compromised individuals.
Tanko stated this while responding to questions from senators during his confirmation. He lamented that the notable challenge confronting the Judiciary was the challenge of corrupt judges, stressing that the situation persists in Nigeria as a result of lack of stiff punishment of offenders. He appealed to the legislature to intervene with the review of laws.
“I always say that Nigeria judiciary is part and parcel of Nigeria and I am not surprised seeing some judges being corrupt but must be treated same way other corrupt elements are treated. I was a magistrate in Bauchi then, but by the time I finished law school, went to NYSC and came back and then we had a White man as our boss, there was no corruption. Later, when we had a black man we started having problems.
“Left for me, there is a need to look at our criminal laws again with a view to dealing with corruption in the society. Some criminals are couching on loopholes in our laws and I want to urge the legislators to amend laws to sanitize the society.
“In the 50s and 60s up to 70s, you cannot open your door and sleep with your eyes closed.
Speaking on the independence of the judiciary, he said, some governors posed a huge challenge to the independence of the state judiciary, adding that the legislature should tie all loopholes that are inherent in the nation’s judiciary.
“Some governors deny monthly allocation to the judiciary while they take care of their political appointees. It is in my view that it’s only the legislature that can put things right in Nigeria.”
