Justice Kalajine Anigbogu, Rtd Alleges Corruption in Nigeria Judiciary, Advocates Administrative Reforms

Justice Ijem , Anigbogu and wife

Former judge of the Anambra State High Court, Hon. Justice C. E. Kalajine Anigbogu, KSP, FTTC has decried the growing level of corruption in th administrative section of the nation’s legal system which he said affects smooth administration of justice. 

This he blamed on the poor working conditions of the staff of the legal profession which he noted tempts some of them to seek other avenues for suvival such as yielding to some unwholesome acts to bend due process.

Justice Anigbogu stated this in the Judiciary Headquarters, Awka during his valedictory ceremony to mark his retirement from the bench after 47 years of “meritorious service”, stressing that unless adequate staff welfare is maintained, the growing decay would subsume the judicial system.

Hear him: “When we talk about the growing level of indiscipline, disorderliness, and low productivity in the judiciary, it must be noted that such situations exist where administrative imperfections, or deliberate punitive policies have subjected operatives to conditions of hardship and frustration borne out of cumulative provocation. This is the situation that exists in Anambra State.”“They have been subjected, therefore, to severe hardship in that there meagre salary is exhausted within the first week of the month on transport to work. They are left with no option than to resort to begging or extorting money from lawyers or litigants in order to go work. They therefore get involved in unwholesome practices and are easily compromised by people who want to cut corners in the court.”

He noted that some state governors violate the provision of the law on staff payments which pave way for unwholesome practices to penetrate the system, stressing that “it is sad to note that in Anambra State and in some other states of the federation, the state governors have unilaterally and without any lawful authority amended the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (salaries and Allowances, etc) Act No. 6 of 2002 and the subsequent Amendment Act No. 1 of 2008 and gone ahead to pay to Judicial Officers at the rate up to 100% below what the National Assembly provided. This is a serious breach of Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office which the respective Governors subscribed to before assumption of office.”

The jurist slammed the lawmakers at the national and state levels saying that “the legislature over the years, both at state and national level have never evaluated the laws made for the judicary to see how well the laws are performed and how well they have been implemented.”

On his experience in the bench, Justice Anigbogu thanked God for his success in office despite daunting challenges, noting that “when I sit back and recall these past years with all the experiences: good, bad, ugly, pleasurable, wonderful, glorious, and sometimes embarrassing, I feel humbled and overwhelmed by the grace of God which has attended my way these past forty-seven years.”

In his speech, the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Hon. Justice Peter Umeadi who was represented by Hon. Justice Ijem Onwuamaegbu, the administrative judge, Idemili judicial division eulogized the outgoing judge describing him as fearless.

He said: “Anigbogu is a fountain of knowlege. He has the law at his fingher tips; he also has administration at his finger tips. Of course he is an expert and authority on administrative matters. Several times, he has bailed us out on administrative issues, taught us what to do. And he does not hesitate to share his knowledge. Of course, he is a perfect gentleman; a very amiable judge, completely couragous and  fearless.”

Earlier in his sermon at the Cathedral Church of St. Faith, Awka,  Bishop of Awka Diocese, Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Alex Ibezim said that “Traps were set for him when he was the clark but he stood strong and upright. Throughout his service in the court, he was upright and straight-forward” even as he admonished the men of legal profession to “depend and look up to Jesus Christ who is the Perfect Judge. Everyone of you should learn humility, just like Jesus showed humility while on earth.”

The event was attended by a legion of lawyers of various ranks, over nine judges, more than 23 priests, bishops, prominent personalities in government, among a multitude of others.

From ODOGWU OBINNA, Awka of Sun Newspapers