A survey by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has found that an estimated N9.4billion bribes exchanged hands in the judicial sector between 2018 and 2020.
The report said the level of corruption in the justice sector was heightened by the “stupendously high amounts of money offered as bribes to judges by lawyers handling high electoral and political cases.”
The 84-page survey entitled, ‘Nigeria Corruption Index: Report of a pilot survey 2020,’ disclosed that the private sector ranked next to the judicial sector in corruption levels, noting that the graft in private business sector contributed greatly to the national level of corruption.
It explained that the methodology was experience-based rather than perception-related questions of corruption, as measured from a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 representing “Absolutely not corrupt” and 100 indicating “Absolutely Corrupt.”
The index also featured data collection on corrupt practices based on monetary and non-monetary offers from officials of the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) who took part in the survey.
Of the 901 respondents in the justice sector, 638 making 70.81 per cent were lawyers.
Judges were 124 judges or 13.76 per cent, and 25 respondents at 2.77 per cent were court staff (clerks and registrars).
The report stated that 9.9 per cent of lawyers admitted paying N5.7billion bribes in connection to mostly electoral cases they were handling.
The survey added that about 78 of the 901 justice sector respondents reported experiencing offers or payment of bribes to influence the judicial process.
It stated: “The money involved in the high-level corruption in this sector was categorised into money demanded, offered or paid. Demands are made by court officials, including judges, while bribery offers and payment are made by lawyers and litigants.
“The total amount of money reported by the justice sector respondents as corruptly demanded, offered and paid between 2018 and 2020 was N9.457billion.”