PHENOMENOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF JUDICIAL CORRUPTION IN NIGERIA

Résumé

This study presents a phenomenological interpretation of judicial corruption in Nigeria. It explores the lived experiences of individuals affected by the corrupt practices in the Nigerian justice system, examining the cultural, social, and political factors that contribute to the prevalence of such corruption. The study also delves into the psychological impacts of judicial corruption on individuals and society at large, highlighting the need for institutional and policy reforms to address the root causes of the problem. Judicial corruption has the tendency of dragging the country back into the Hobbessian state of nature wherein life is brutish, nasty and short. When people do not believe that they can get fair hearing from the court they use self-help, thereby taking laws into their own hands. This is a state of anarchy. This will also slide the country into economic quagmire because investors are not likely to invest in an economy they believe the judiciary cannot guarantee their rights. The key solution to the problem is leadership going by Chinua Achebe's postulation in his book. The Trouble with Nigeria. But who will bell the cat? The findings of this work provide valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to consider in their efforts towards reducing and preventing corruption in the Nigerian judiciary.