Rot in judiciary: It’s now a common talk that politicians ‘own’ some judges — Mato

Matilda Ikediobi Magaji, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has voiced serious concerns regarding the potential erosion of judicial independence in Nigeria, suggesting it has become a common topic of discussion that politicians "own" some judges. In an interview, Mato examined the constitutional, ethical, and institutional dimensions of judicial independence, particularly focusing on the executive's role in providing welfare packages for judges. She argued that while the three arms of government operate independently, the funding of the judiciary should also be independent. Mato stated that accepting gifts or any form of enticement from the executive is unacceptable and can influence a judge's thinking and subsequent judgments. She highlighted the controversial construction of 40 houses allegedly built by the executive for judges. Mato questioned the motive behind this project, especially considering the large number of judges and justices in Nigeria, which exceeds a thousand. She pointed out that the judiciary is supposed to have its own independent funding and procurement means, managed by the Chief Justice of the Federation, to provide for judges' needs, including accommodation. The commissioning of these houses, she noted, moves the issue beyond mere allegation. Mato believes that such actions, regardless of how they are presented, can compromise the integrity of the judicial system.

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Any gift that comes through to the hands of a judge will definitely have a way of influencing his thinking, and definitely, by way of extension, his judgement over the person that offers such a gift.