Police, others received less bribes in 2023 compared to Nigerian judges — Report

In 2023, Nigerian judges and magistrates surpassed police, customs, and military personnel to receive the highest amount of bribes among public officials, according to a report by the country’s national statistical office.

According to Peoples Gazette, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS, in its corruption pattern and trend report for 2023, identified judges as the foremost recipients of cash bribes among various categories of public officials.

The report, released on Thursday, highlighted significant disparities in the amounts of bribes paid by citizens depending on the type of public official involved.

“Among all types of public officials for which there was sufficient data, with an average of NGN 31,000, the largest cash bribes were paid to judges and magistrates, followed by customs or immigration service officers (NGN17,800) and members of the armed forces (NGN16,600).”

It added, “By contrast, much smaller average amounts were paid to doctors, nurses and midwives (NGN 6,000), public utility officers (NGN 4,600) and other health workers (NGN 2,900).”

The survey also records a staggering N721 billion in bribes collected by Nigerian public officials, adding, “Average cash bribe paid in Nigeria in 2023 amounted to NGN 8,284.”

The survey uncovers a troubling hierarchy of corruption in Nigerian public institutions, with judges entrusted with upholding justice being receivers of the largest bribes, echoing the public perception of a corrupt judiciary.

This revelation follows recent comments from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, who lamented that the judiciary is no longer the hope of the common man, but “it is also, or majorly now, the last hope of the big shots.”

Before the release of the NBS report, in 2023, retired Justice Muhammad Dattijo, in his valedictory speech, condemned the judiciary as corrupt and responsible for public disillusionment. 

“It has been in the public space that court officials and judges are easily bribed by litigants to obviate delays and or obtain favourable judgements,” Dattijo asserted.