15/12/2025
*THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT IN NIGERIA, ITS ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THE CORRUPTION WITHIN*
Bayo Akinlade, Esq
The Federal High Court (FHC) in Nigeria is a very important Court. With a civil and criminal jurisdiction that translates into trillions of Naira cutting across all arms of government interactions
It's motto is Justice, Integrity and the Rule of Law but like most things "Nigeria" it is under the burden of corruption, bad governance and weak infrastructures.
The Federal High Court is in every State of the Federation, with some States having more work load than others especially States like Lagos, Rivers and the FCT.
*CORRUPTION*
Corruption in this Court is a serious concern. The court itself has over the years; put mechanisms in place to reduce this menace and have done well in the area of making court filing payments directly into the court's accounts eliminating cash payments at its registry.
Despite being the first court to initiate non-cash payments, the human component of the Court has found a way to frustrate this innovation and forced the hands of litigants and users of the court to engage in corrupt practices.
The Bailiff section now runs a corruption ring that perhaps competes with high level blue colour corruption.
The EFCC and the ICPC are aware of this corruption which negatively impacts on the economic stability of our nation but why no one has been investigated or prosecuted beats my imagination.
One would imagine that a court of such federal character and importance would be the module for professionalism and transparency within the Judiciary but the court struggles with many challenges from lack of basic infrastructure to adequate welfare for those who work in the courts.
*POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT*
The Court has today become a political tool to influence leadership within political parties and groups.
It is a court now used by the government in power to intimidate and oppress it's political and business opponents.
Government Establishments like AMCON use the courts to achieve its aims even if those aims do not promote justice, equity and the rule of law.
As the Court begins it's 2025/2026 Legal Year and holds it's Judges Conference, I call on the leadership of the Court, our Colleagues, our friends and partners in the administration of justice to plug every hole that encourages corruption and injustice within the Federal High Court.
We have but one life to live, we have but one opportunity to make the nation better. A single judge, a single Chief Registrar, DCR, clerk and Bailiff can either ruin this court or make it a pillar of hope for all citizens.
As we embrace new technologies, case management systems and practice guidelines, let us consider it for the good of all citizens.
I call on members of the legal profession to stop engaging in corrupt practices, stop bribing our judges, court staff and Bailiff. *Frankly it is the practitioners, litigants and general court users that are responsible for everything wrong in our justice system*
I wish our FEDERAL HIGH COURT a happy new legal year as we strive to make this nation better and safer.
_Bayo is the National Convener of Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary_
