Ex-President Obasanjo Exposes Judiciary, Accuses Politicians Of Manipulating Judges

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has launched a blistering critique of Nigeria’s judiciary, alleging pervasive corruption and describing the system as a “court of corruption rather than a court of justice.”....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In his recently released book, Nigeria: Past and Future, published by the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Obasanjo lamented the “steady decline of the judiciary’s integrity,” particularly since the start of the Fourth Republic.

He wrote, “The reputation of the Nigerian judiciary has steadily deteriorated over the four republics. The rapidity of its precipitous fall, especially in the Fourth Republic, is deeply concerning.”

Obasanjo warned that justice in Nigeria has become transactional, noting, “Where ‘justice’ is only available to the highest bidder, despair, anarchy, and violence replace justice, order, and hope.”

Recounting a visit to a northern state a decade after leaving office, he said a governor pointed out six duplexes near a government guest house, claiming they belonged to a judge who allegedly acquired the properties as chairman of election tribunals.

He also accused Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu of compromising electoral integrity since 2015. Obasanjo alleged that Yakubu had “polluted and grossly undermined” elections, turning them into a “charade” and placing his own will above that of the people.

“No matter the will of the people, the Chairman of INEC since 2015 has elevated his will above theirs. Even worse, corrupt judges – two out of three or three out of five – override the will of millions of voters,” he wrote.

Obasanjo further alleged that late former President Muhammadu Buhari colluded with the judiciary during election petitions, securing favorable judgments through financial inducements and political appointments.

“Buhari disregarded all caution. In his election cases, he supplemented financial incentives with appointments for judges, regardless of their age or rank,” Obasanjo noted.

He condemned the recurring practice of falsifying election results to declare losers as winners, only for aggrieved candidates to be told to seek redress in what he called “a court of corruption rather than a court of justice.”