A Lagos-based lawyer, Bayo Akinlade, has blamed lawyers and litigants for the incidences of corruption in the judiciary.
Akinlade, who is the South West Coordinator of Policy and Law Reform Centre, in an interview recently, said much of the incidences occur in the registry during the filing of court processes.
“My secretary said to me after she returned from filing a matter in court: ‘Everyone I met in the process of filing insisted I gave them money before they could do anything, Sir, if this is how things are even in the judiciary, there is no hope for the common man and the whole fight against corruption is a big lie.’ I pondered heavily on her remarks and decided to launch a facebook page to fight corruption in the judiciary nationwide,” he said.
The lawyer said following the observation, he made further inquiry to discover that lawyers and their clients encourage corruption because they don’t want their cases delayed.
“We were indeed shocked at our discovery but we soon understood why. Mr. A is a lawyer who wants his processes filed fast, served on time and gets assigned on time, so he goes to the registry to file. The registry officials may demand for money but he is under no obligation to give but for fear that he would be perceived as a stingy lawyer he obliges,” he said.
The lawyer also said the responsibility to end judicial corruption is with lawyers because they are the ones who bring cases to court.
