Last week, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad retired from the Supreme Court, marking the end of his four-decade-long tenure as the second most senior justice. In his farewell address, Justice Dattijo shocked the nation by revealing the rampant corruption within the institution he had served. He criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in managing financial resources, especially at the Supreme Court, and pointed fingers at politicians compromising the judiciary, citing cases like the 2019 Imo State gubernatorial election and the election of former Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

Justice Dattijo also lamented the decline in merit-based appointments to the bench, accusing the system of favoring the relatives, spouses, and lovers of judges and judicial office managers. He expressed concern about the excessive powers vested in the Chief Justice of Nigeria, leading to an unbalanced judiciary.

This revelation resonated with many Nigerians who have long lost faith in the judiciary, posing a significant threat to democracy and the nation’s well-being. Legal expert Professor Chidi Odinkalu called for urgent reforms, emphasizing the need to unbundle the Chief Justice’s office. He stressed the importance of acknowledging the prevalent corruption within the judiciary and highlighted the necessity of restoring integrity and fairness in judicial appointments.