Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has voiced his apprehension regarding the caliber of judges emerging from the Nigerian judiciary, suggesting that the selection process heavily relies on chance. During his address at the International Bar Association (IBA) conference in Paris, France, Akpata emphasized Nigeria's status as the most prominent black nation globally and shed light on what he termed a significant issue, referring to it as "judiciary capture."
Chidi Odinkalu, a law professor and former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), echoed Akpata's concerns in a series of videos shared on X (formerly Twitter). Akpata, who is vying for the Edo State governorship, expressed dismay over the alleged manipulation of the judicial system by Nigeria's political class. According to Premium Times, Akpata, who served as NBA president from 2021 to 2022, disclosed insights from his tenure on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the body responsible for judge recruitment and discipline. He characterized the judge recruitment process as "bizarre," though specific details were not provided.
Akpata asserted, "For a good judge to emerge out of that process is by fluke only; sheer luck with judicial appointment in Nigeria. It is ridiculous." He went on to reveal his findings during his NBA presidency, indicating a deliberate effort by the political class in Nigeria to exert influence over the judiciary, a phenomenon he claimed has severe consequences for the rule of law in the country. He described this influence as intentional and yielding favorable outcomes for the political class.
The controversy surrounding the appointment of judges in Nigeria has sparked calls for reforms, with critics like Odinkalu questioning instances where heads of courts allegedly appointed their family members as judges, terming this situation as "judicial capture."
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