Corruption in Judiciary: Let’s revamp law schools

It is really embarrassing and quite incredible to see the present mire in which the judiciary  has found  itself during this time when the country seriously needs its impeccable firmness and readiness to be the reliable, veritable and effective weapon to fight corruption. Corruption is crippling and sinking the country. It has found its way into the judiciary, the last hope of the common man.

It is surprising that lawyers of high calibre are allegedly luring and bribing justices, who are living unimaginably luxurious lives, in order to pervert the course of justice. Hence, both the Bar and Bench infringe, flout and violate the ethics of the prestigious profession which ought to be sacrosanct.

The cases being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are just few out of many across the country. An investigation into how all the judges in each of the states of the federation live exorbitantly will unveil the real rot in the system. Then, what is the possible cause of all this?

It has been stated that both the Bench and Bar are filthy and corrupt, though there are many lawyers and judges who still choose to maintain discipline and the ethics of the profession.

One thing connects the two categories: those involved are products of different faculties of law and the Nigerian Law School. These corrupt individuals passed through the institutions. Therefore, it becomes imperative to check how these institutions contribute to the vice defacing our legal system.

Before, admissions into the law colleges and faculties were strictly based on merit. Only those who qualified academically and had unquenchable passion for law were admitted to pursue the discipline. Then, courageous, brave and disciplined lawyers were being produced.

In contrast, these days, desperate parents offer bribes and manoeuvre their ways to have their children admitted into the school, at the detriment of those who are qualified. Bribery will not stop till these students graduate. What type of lawyers do we then intend to produce?

Cases of impersonation and examination malpractices at the Law Schools are enough to justify the assertion that corruption among legal practitioners and judges really begin, at the academic institutions. It has its root there, expanding freely. And it cannot be denied that a corrupt system cannot produce incorruptible things. How can we expect the would-be lawyers and judges engaging in academic crimes to become reliable and just practitioners of law?

Hence, the presidency, in its quest to bring sanity to the system, should consider overhauling all the institutions responsible for training lawyers in the country. This will go a long way in stemming corruption because the present activities of the Department of State Service (DSS) and EFCC are ephemeral. They can only work on the serving judicial officers. Uglier ones will soon take over from the ugly judges.

Also, the Federal Government should strive hard to extend its war against corruption to the state level. Corruption blossoms and flourishes among the judges and magistrates in the states of the federation.

This, perhaps, can to a large extent help to remove some black sheep in the legal system. The Federal Government should not spare any sacred cow: it is a time to step on toes if the government is sincere with its vow to cleanse the country.

• Timothy Faboade,

OAU, Ile-Ife.