The Executive Secretary, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, has said that Nigeria’s judiciary is facing serious credibility crisis.
He spoke on Tuesday in Lagos at the unveiling of the Leadership Approval Rating (LAR), Volume Five, titled: “Voices for Justice: A Civic Lens on Nigeria’s Judicial System – Documenting Public Experiences, Opinions & Reform Demands.”
The event was organized by HEDA with the support of the MacArthur Foundation.
Arigbabu said: “We must confront an uncomfortable reality—Nigeria’s judiciary is facing a serious credibility crisis. Allegations of corruption, inefficiency, and political interference have significantly eroded public confidence in this institution.
“This is not a theoretical or abstract concern; it is a daily reality for millions of Nigerians who turn to the courts to defend their rights, seek redress, resolve conflicts, arbitrate in corporate disagreements, and pursue justice.”
He warned that when public trust in the judiciary is compromised, the very legitimacy of nation’s democratic framework is at stake.
He stated that the Leadership Approval Rating is more than just a report.
According to him, it is a mirror held up to power; reflecting the views, frustrations, and hopes of everyday Nigerians.
“In this fifth volume, we have provided empirical insights into how citizens across the country perceive the judicial system. Our data – gathered from 1,357 participants across all 36 states and the FCT – offers a clear, people-centered perspective. These are not just statistics; they are the live experiences and unfiltered voices of the Nigerian people.
“The findings in this report are sobering and demand urgent attention. They challenge us to ask critical questions about judicial independence, the ethical conduct of legal practitioners, and the extent to which the judiciary defends human rights – especially in its interactions with law enforcement agencies.
“At HEDA, we strongly believe that public accountability must be rooted in public perception. Citizens’ opinions about the judiciary are not just a measure of institutional performance; they are a call to action. Only by listening to these voices can we begin to chart a realistic path toward meaningful reform.”
He added: “The recommendations outlined in this report are both comprehensive and urgent. They include ensuring full judicial autonomy, reforming the National Judicial Council to enhance its effectiveness, leveraging technology to increase transparency, and fostering ethical professionalism within the judiciary and legal practices. These are not mere suggestions; they are imperatives for restoring public trust and safeguarding the integrity of our administration of justice.
“The journey to a reformed judiciary is not one that will be smooth or swift. It requires unwavering political will, active civic engagement, and sustained commitment from all stakeholders.
“The judiciary can only function effectively when it earns and maintains the trust of the people it serves. Its legitimacy must be built not only on constitutional mandates but also on public confidence.
“As we have unveiled this report today, let it serve as a tool for both reflection and redirection. Let it empower reformers within and beyond the judiciary to take bold, transformative action. And above all, let it remind us of the shared responsibility we all carry in building a justice system that reflects the highest ideals of fairness, integrity, and democracy.”
He also called on the judiciary to speak out on its challenges are.
He stated that the challenges of the judiciary should be addressed to make the organ of government to function properly.
He noted that judiciary is fundamental for societal growth and well-being
Arigbabu said: “If it is the bar that you want to speak on the bench, let it be done. If it is the judicial workers that we need to speak, let it be done. And this idea that when you ask a public servant by the media if they ask a questionthat what are the challenges, we heard that you are not being funded well for this?
“When it’s obvious, it’s the case. So this is even being dishonest about your problems if you do not speak out on the true position of things. And the problem goes beyond you.
“It goes beyond this culture of being seen to be non-antagonistic of governments. If you state it as it is, without being vindictive, without being politicized, just state the issues. These are the problems of the judiciary.
“These are the issues. We are saying here today that can we start from now that every state’s judiciary, the federal judiciary, the federal system, we should know the budget of the judiciary. What I think that was.
“And we should be able to have a review of such budgets at the end of either every quarter and at the end of the year to know that.
“So how do we expect the judiciary, for instance, to function?If, for instance, it requires a budget of N8bn and it’s gets N2bn. It can not to function appropriately. And what do you get at the end of the day? You’ll never be able to do that.
‘How do we make sure that our chief justices, either state courts or federal courts,become contractors? These are all the things that we have to carry to the center to take care of these issues. These are issues that we can’t resolve without spending money.”
