The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, has said a major challenge in the fight against corruption in the country remains that ?judicial officials exhibit relatively high bribery prevalence.?

According to a Friday statement published on the commission?s website, Aliyu said this during a keynote address at the 2024 Annual Lecture and Award Ceremony organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN) in Lagos on Thursday.

The ICPC chairman spoke on ?Justice System Administration and Insecurity in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions?.

Represented by the commission?s spokesperson, Mr. Demola Bakare, the ICPC boss dissected the multifaceted issues plaguing Nigeria?s justice system and its interconnectedness with the country?s persistent insecurity challenges.

Aliyu said the myriad obstacles undermining the effectiveness of Nigeria?s justice system, included insufficient funding, outdated infrastructure, and inadequate technological adoption.

He maintained that corruption, encompassing bribery and influence peddling, emerged as a major hurdle, adding that these systemic inefficiencies hinder timely justice delivery, perpetuating frustration and disillusionment among citizens.

?I dare say that the justice sector remains a focal point of concern, particularly regarding bribery involving stakeholders in the justice sector, and despite limited public contact, judicial officials exhibit relatively high bribery prevalence, hence the need for targeted anti-corruption measures in this sector,? Aliyu said.

He identified other challenges in the justice system as poor record-keeping and limited use of technology like electronic filing, overcrowded and poorly maintained prisons, inadequate human resources, with shortages of judges and low salaries for judicial officers.

Aliyu lamented that despite the introduction of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in 2015, its implementation remains inconsistent, with a lack of functional criminal records and slow reforms.

He proposed the adoption of digital technologies for court processes, upgrading of court infrastructure and provision of continuous training for judicial officers as some of the needed reforms that will impact positively on Nigeria?s justice system.

The ICPC boss also called for a comprehensive reform to align laws with international standards as well as the strengthening of oversight bodies like the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Judicial Service Commission (JSC). (Daily Sun)

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