The National Judicial Council (NJC) has opposed a proposed constitutional amendment by the House of Representatives that seeks to empower the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to investigate and remove corrupt judges.
The bill, passed by the House on March 25, 2025, proposes that the NBA would have the authority to receive and review petitions against judges, consider their defense, and take disciplinary action.
However, the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, criticized the bill, arguing that the responsibility of disciplining judges lies solely with the NJC, as stipulated by the 1999 Constitution. She emphasized that any accusations against judges must be supported by concrete evidence and must follow due process.
“The Constitution clearly places the discipline of judges under the NJC’s jurisdiction. It is not a process that can be altered arbitrarily. If a judge is accused of corruption, there must be evidence, and due process must be followed,” Ogedengbe stated.
She also raised concerns about the potential for abuse if the NBA were given such authority. “Who are those corrupting the judges? Crimes do not happen in isolation—there are always accomplices. Are they members of the public, lawyers, or even other judges? These are questions that must be addressed before considering such a drastic amendment,” she said.
The NJC also noted that the bill must pass through the Senate and be ratified by all 36 state Houses of Assembly before becoming law. Public hearings and stakeholder engagements will play a key role in determining its fate.
“The conversation is just beginning. Whether this bill will truly curb corruption remains uncertain. What is clear is that we must uphold the constitutional framework already in place for disciplining judicial officers,” Ogedengbe concluded.
