‘The Bench Is Now a Work-Chop’: Bakare Calls for Sweeping Reforms in Nigeria’s Justice Sector

LAGOS — The Serving Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has issued a scathing indictment of the Nigerian judiciary, describing the sector as a “marketplace” where justice is often sold to the highest bidder.

Speaking at the 22nd Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture in Lagos, Bakare called for urgent and sweeping reforms to save the legal profession from total collapse, warning that “integrity deficiency” has become the defining characteristic of the nation’s courts.

The event, organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, was themed: “Integrity Deficiency in the Justice Sector: Whither the Legal Profession?”

“Justice for Sale”

Bakare, who is also a trained lawyer and former associate of the late Gani Fawehinmi, did not mince words. He lamented that many judges have turned the hallowed chambers of justice into a business center.

“The verdict is that a frightening proportion of Nigerian lawyers no longer have enough confidence in their skills to argue cases before judges,” Bakare told the audience of legal luminaries. “Instead, some judges now see the bench as their ‘work-chop’—a place where they merely work to ‘chop’ (eat).”

He warned that political interference in judicial appointments and the prevalence of conflicting court judgments are eroding public trust. “The judiciary has become a marketplace where justice is for sale to the highest bidder,” he added.

The “Gani” Standard

Recalling his early days in the profession, Bakare urged modern lawyers to emulate the values of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He shared how he won his first Court of Appeal case just 21 days after being called to the Bar, solely through the rigorous mentorship and diligence instilled in him by Fawehinmi.

“We must return to ‘ethical lawyering’ founded on contentment, patience, and diligence,” he advised. “Lawyers and judges must remember they are the primary custodians of the rule of law. If the salt loses its savor, how shall it be seasoned?”

Proposed Reforms

To clean up the rot, the cleric proposed a series of “radical” structural reforms:

• Annual Audits: He recommended a collaboration between the ICPC, the NBA, and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to conduct annual, data-driven audits of the justice sector.
• Judicial Autonomy: He called for true financial independence for the judiciary, with funds released directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to prevent executive manipulation.
• Ethical Overhaul: Bakare argued that reform must begin at the training stage, demanding a stronger emphasis on professional responsibility in the Nigerian Law School curriculum.

Stakeholders React

The lecture, which is a staple in the legal calendar, drew reactions from senior lawyers present. Many agreed with Bakare’s assessment, noting that the recent trend of “conflicting ex-parte orders” in political cases validates his concerns.

“The Pastor has spoken the bitter truth,” remarked a senior counsel at the event. “Unless we purge the system of corrupt elements, the common man will continue to suffer.”