From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
ActionAid Nigeria has initiated a push for a more accountable, transparent, and independent judiciary with the launch of the Coalition for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (COJAR) in Abuja.
The move addresses Nigeria’s low ranking—120th out of 139 countries—in judicial accountability, as reported by the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index 2022, underscoring the urgent need for reforms to ensure fairness and protect democratic rights.
Speaking at the launch, Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, Deputy Country Director and Director of Programmes at ActionAid Nigeria, stressed the judiciary’s role as the last hope for citizens.
“Our goal is not only to convene but to converge, merging our voices, expertise, and advocacy to strengthen judicial independence in Nigeria,” she said. “If we don’t get our election right, quality leadership will become an issue.” She urged stakeholders to build a resilient justice system that serves the public.
Dankabo called on COJAR to propose ways to mobilise citizens and groups to demand systems guaranteeing judicial integrity. She noted that ActionAid, active in Nigeria for over two decades combating poverty and injustice, is driving COJAR under its Citizens Led Engagements on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery (CLEAP Justice) project, funded by the Ford Foundation to enhance judicial transparency.
“That the judiciary is a sacred institution, a pillar of democracy, and the last hope of the common man,” Dankabo said. “Yet, recent events have cast a shadow over its credibility and transparency. If this institution falters, what then becomes of that hope? It is therefore imperative that we act deliberately and collaboratively to restore faith in the judiciary and ensure its true independence.”
Adesuwa Iluobe, CLEAP Justice Project Coordinator, explained that the initiative aims to improve post-election justice through citizen action, revealing that ActionAid has built the capacity of 68,497 citizens on judicial and electoral accountability.
Governance specialist Judith Gbagidi added that ActionAid engages the public with evidence-based advocacy, emphasising, “Citizens need to be adequately informed on what they expect from the judiciary through a proper understanding of the provisions of the Constitution.”