CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA JUDICIAL SYSTEM: CHALLENGES AND CONSEQUENCES

Abstract

Corruption is a virus that has plagued the smooth running of institutions in Nigeria. The access to Justice and the right to fair hearing are the basics for the success of democracy in any nation, and the judiciary is the body charged with that responsibility. If the judiciary is hampered by corruption, it will definitely affect their mode of operation in delivering justice and fair hearing to the people. This study therefore looks at the challenges of corruption in the judicial system and the consequences. Literatures relevant to the study were reviewed as a secondary tool for gathering data. The strain theory was adopted to explain the involvement of the judiciary in corruption. The findings from the literature revealed that corruption is a major challenge in the judicial system as it leads to the people in doubt of the efficiency of the system. Therefore, there is the need to curb corruption in the judiciary. Based on the outcome, the study recommends that judicial workers found wanting in corruptible practices be made to face disciplinary action for their misdeeds and lack of ethics.