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By Lukman Olabiyi
the National Judicial Institute (NJI) has said that allegations of corruption against the judiciary were often driven more by public perception than actual realities within the nation’s justice system.
NJI’s administrator, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, stated this yesterday, at the opening of a sensitisation seminar for Justices of the Court of Appeal, organised by the institute in collaboration with the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in Lagos.
The seminar, themed, “Enhancing the Efficacy of Bank Liquidation and Depositors’ Protection,” focused on strengthening judicial understanding of bank liquidation proceedings and depositor protection within Nigeria’s financial system.
On the state of the judiciary, Adejumo said many Nigerians misunderstand how the courts operate, particularly regarding delays in handling cases, which often fuels negative assumptions and allegations of corruption.
“In any nation, there are two perceptions; perceived realities and actual realities.
“Regardless of how effective the court is, some people hold their own views, possibly due to lack of education or understanding of how the judicial system works. If a party wins today, and loses tomorrow, allegations of corruption or incompetence may follow,” he said.
According to him, many citizens fail to appreciate the enormous workload handled daily by courts across the country.
“People often do not understand that courts can have thousands of cases. Before you conclude 100 matters, hundreds more may have been filed. To the average person, this creates the impression that the courts are not functioning properly,” he said.
Adejumo maintained that accusations of corruption against judicial officers should not be accepted without proof, stressing that many hardworking judges continue to discharge their duties diligently despite mounting public criticism.
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“Without understanding legal procedures, some people assume the courts are inactive or corrupt. Allegations of corruption are often based on perception until proven otherwise,” he added.
He, however, acknowledged the existence of negative public perceptions about the justice sector but insisted that the system itself remained strong and functional.
“Many believe the system is broken, that is the nature of negative perceptions.However, some judicial officers are working diligently and the National Judicial Council is holding everyone accountable. This does not mean the system is flawed. I assure you, the judiciary will not fail,” he stated.
The NJI administrator also stressed the importance of a stable and credible judiciary in sustaining confidence in Nigeria’s financial and banking sectors, noting that the Court of Appeal plays a pivotal role in shaping banking and financial jurisprudence.
He explained that bank liquidation matters often involve complex legal and regulatory questions requiring careful judicial interpretation.
“The Court of Appeal occupies a critical position within this framework. Its decisions contribute significantly to the development of coherent and predictable jurisprudence in banking and financial regulation,” he said.
In a welcome address, on behalf of the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDIC, Emily Osuji, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, said the seminar was organised to deepen collaboration between the judiciary and the NDIC.
According to her, decisions of the appellate court significantly impact bank resolution processes, liquidation proceedings and depositor protection in Nigeria.
She noted that the seminar underscored the judiciary’s responsibility in safeguarding public confidence in the nation’s financial system through fairness, transparency and integrity in the administration of justice.
