Akpata’s narrative commences with a surgical deconstruction of the myth of merit-based judicial appointments in Nigeria. Within a system corroded by nepotism and connections, the once-revered positions on the Bench are laid bare as commodities exchanged in the currency of personal relationships and affiliations.
The Legal Psychology of Akpata: Unmasking Imprudent, Susceptible Evildoers and Impostors Undermining Justice in Nigeria’s Judiciary and the Global Call for a Conscience War
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In a compelling and incisive address at the International Bar Association (IBA) Rule of Law Symposium, Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), unleashed a scathing critique of the malaise afflicting Nigeria’s judicial system. His words echoed not only as a denouncement of the evils entrenched within the judiciary but also as a clarion call for a global war of conscience against the impostors undermining justice.
Akpata’s legal psychology laid bare the dark underbelly of the Nigerian judiciary, where merit-based appointments give way to a system infiltrated by connections, nepotism, and compromises. He pulled no punches, revealing a landscape where positions on the Bench are more often a product of who you know than what you know. This revelation, a testament to institutionalized hereditary appointments, exposes a judiciary susceptible to manipulation, eroding its credibility. In recent weeks, retired Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad echoed concerns about corruption within the judiciary, shedding light on various facets, including the prevalent issue of nepotism. The disconcerting practice of justices and judges appointing their own children and relatives to positions as judges and magistrates stands as a glaring dark spot in the realm of Nigerian justice.
The former NBA President went beyond mere condemnation, delving into the depths of corruption that permeate the appointment process. Akpata’s stark admission appears to show that some judges are coerced into corruption due to fear, pressure, and financial desperation paints a grim picture of a system in dire need of redemption. His revelation of a judiciary psychologically enslaved by politicians underscores the urgent need for intervention.
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As we grapple with Akpata’s revelations, the implications for democracy in Nigeria become glaring. The judiciary, a cornerstone of any democratic society, stands compromised, with elected officials vulnerable to removal on technicalities and compromised environments. The alarming question arises: Why hold elections if duly elected representatives can be ousted arbitrarily?
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Beyond the borders of Nigeria, Akpata’s impassioned plea extends to the global legal community. His call for a conscience war resonates with legal practitioners worldwide, urging them to confront the systemic issues that compromise justice. The IBA, as a global platform, becomes a battleground for a collective effort to restore the sanctity of the legal profession.
Akpata’s impassioned plea transcends national borders, resonating globally with legal practitioners, policymakers, and conscientious citizens. The International Bar Association (IBA), a forum for global legal discourse, transforms into a battleground for collective efforts to restore the sanctity of the legal profession. The former NBA President’s call for a conscience war is a rallying cry, urging legal communities worldwide to confront the demons threatening the very foundations of justice.
Regardless of personal sentiments, Akpata’s revelations echo loud and clear. His legal psychology becomes a catalyst for change, demanding not just introspection but collective action. The shadows within Nigeria’s judiciary must be dispelled, and the global legal community has been beckoned to wage a war of conscience. The call to conscience is both a plea and a challenge – a call to rescue justice from the clutches of compromise and restore the noble pursuit of truth in the name of the law. Whether one likes him or not, Akpata has unfurled a banner bearing the truth, a truth that demands acknowledgment and action.
While Akpata and this exposé vehemently reject any notion of resorting to vigilantism or extrajudicial measures on bad elements in the system, they passionately advocate for robust international pressure, severe penalties, and stringent sanctions against those responsible for corroding the judicial system. We passionately advocate for robust international pressure, severe penalties, and stringent sanctions against those responsible for corroding the judicial system. This impassioned plea extends far beyond Nigeria’s borders, urging the global community to firmly hold these malevolent actors accountable. While they may secure the best education for their families abroad and enjoy settlements overseas, their roles as judges and lawyers demand rigorous scrutiny. The call resounds across the globe for a united front, ensuring that the pursuit of justice remains unblemished, transcending borders and unflinchingly confronting those who shamelessly exploit the legal system for personal gain.
In the face of such revelations, the international legal community is tasked with a collective responsibility – to apply pressure where it will be most effective, to enact sanctions that serve as a deterrent, and to hold those who manipulate the legal system accountable. The cry for a conscience war is a call to action, resonating far beyond Nigeria’s borders.
In the aftermath of Akpata’s revelations, the legal psychology of his discourse becomes a catalyst for change. It prompts legal practitioners, policymakers, and conscientious citizens to embark on a crusade against evildoers and impostors within the judiciary. The echoes of his speech reverberate globally, challenging the legal community to confront the demons that threaten the foundations of justice and democracy.
Akpata’s narrative commences with a surgical deconstruction of the myth of merit-based judicial appointments in Nigeria. Within a system corroded by nepotism and connections, the once-revered positions on the Bench are laid bare as commodities exchanged in the currency of personal relationships and affiliations.
Delving deeper, Akpata exposes the underbelly of corruption entwined in the appointment process. He unveils a grim reality – judges compelled into corruption, victims of fear, pressure, and financial desperation. The very institution designed as a bastion of justice finds itself psychologically enslaved by the political forces it is meant to restrain. As layers of deception are peeled away, the looming threat to democracy becomes palpable. Elected representatives, embodiments of the people’s will, stand exposed and vulnerable to arbitrary removal based on technicalities and within compromised environments. The fundamental question reverberates: Why partake in the electoral process if duly elected officials can be ousted at the whims of a manipulated judiciary?
Akpata’s impassioned plea transcends national borders, resonating globally with legal practitioners, policymakers, and conscientious citizens. The International Bar Association (IBA), a forum for global legal discourse, transforms into a battleground for collective efforts to restore the sanctity of the legal profession. The former NBA President’s call for a conscience war is a rallying cry, urging legal communities worldwide to confront the demons threatening the very foundations of justice.
Regardless of personal sentiments, Akpata’s revelations echo loud and clear. His legal psychology becomes a catalyst for change, demanding not just introspection but collective action. The shadows within Nigeria’s judiciary must be dispelled, and the global legal community has been beckoned to wage a war of conscience. In this crucible of truth, the world awaits to see if the legal fraternity can rise to the occasion, dismantling structures that allow evildoers and impostors to thrive within the hallowed halls of justice. The call to conscience is both a plea and a challenge – a call to rescue justice from the clutches of compromise and restore the noble pursuit of truth in the name of the law. Whether one likes him or not, Akpata has unfurled a banner bearing the truth, a truth that demands acknowledgment and action.
As the call for a conscience war gains momentum, the world watches to see if the legal fraternity can rise to the occasion, dismantling the structures that enable evildoers and impostors to thrive within the hallowed halls of justice. Beyond the surface, Akpata delves into the depths of corruption that permeates the appointment process. He peels back the layers to reveal a chilling reality – some judges are coerced into corruption. Fear, pressure, and financial desperation conspire to create an environment where judicial officers are shackled, not by the law, but by the very system designed to uphold it. The judiciary, intended as a beacon of justice, stands psychologically enslaved by the very politicians it is meant to check and balance.
As the revelations unfold, the implications for democracy become starkly evident. Elected officials, the embodiment of the people’s will, find themselves vulnerable to arbitrary removal on technicalities and within compromised environments. The fundamental question echoes through the corridors of power: Why go through the electoral process if duly elected representatives can be ousted at the whims of a manipulated judiciary?
Akpata’s impassioned plea extends beyond the borders of Nigeria. It reverberates across continents, reaching the ears of legal practitioners, policymakers, and conscientious citizens globally. The IBA, a stage for global legal discourse, becomes the battleground for a collective effort to restore the sanctity of the legal profession. The former NBA President’s call for a conscience war is a rallying cry, challenging legal fraternities worldwide to confront the demons that threaten the very foundations of justice.
As the resounding echoes of Akpata’s revelations permeate the corridors of justice, a moment of reckoning looms large. The legal psychology embedded in his discourse emerges as a powerful catalyst for change, transcending the realms of mere introspection and demanding collective action. Within the labyrinth of Nigeria’s judiciary, where shadows cast doubt on the integrity of appointments, the global legal community stands summoned to embark on a resolute war of conscience.
In this crucible of truth, the world witnesses a pivotal juncture as the legal fraternity is called upon to rise above complacency and dismantle the structures that provide refuge to evildoers and impostors within the sacred halls of justice. Akpata’s plea is not merely a call; it is a profound challenge – a summons to rescue justice from the suffocating clutches of compromise and restore the noble pursuit of truth in the name of the law.
Beginning with the meticulous dissection of the mirage of merit-based appointments in Nigeria’s judiciary, Akpata lays bare a system tainted by nepotism, connections, and a pervasive culture of compromise. Positions on the Bench, once revered, are exposed as commodities traded in the currency of personal relationships, shattering the illusion of a meritocratic judiciary.
Olumide Akpata’s revelation on the Nigerian judiciary’s selection process, where judges with “no business being there” are appointed, unveils a disturbing prospect – the presence of shameless individuals potentially harboring psychopathic traits on the bench. Akpata’s assertion suggests a fundamental misalignment between the essential qualities for a judge and the exhibited characteristics of some appointees. The implied lack of conscience, extreme self-interest, and engagement in financial dealings within the legal system pose a significant threat to justice. Urgently addressing this issue requires a proactive approach, including psychological evaluations, to identify and mitigate the influence of psychopathic elements on judicial decisions. Preserving the integrity of the judiciary demands immediate action to ensure fair and impartial justice for all.
In reimagining the structure of Nigeria’s judicial system, a compelling need arises for the establishment of independent and fully state-based judicial councils. This departure from the colonial-era National Judicial Council (NJC) model is essential for fostering autonomy and local responsiveness within each state’s judiciary. The call for independent State Judicial Councils signifies a shift towards a more nuanced and decentralized approach to judicial governance.
Venturing beyond the surface, Akpata courageously delves into the abyss of corruption entwined in the appointment process. His revelations bring to light a grim reality – judges ensnared into corruption, victims of fear, pressure, and financial desperation. The very institution entrusted with upholding justice finds itself psychologically enslaved by the political forces it should curtail.
With each layer of deception peeled away, the ominous threat to democracy becomes starkly evident. Elected officials, the embodiment of the people’s will, are laid bare and rendered vulnerable to arbitrary removal based on technicalities and within compromised environments. The fundamental question resounds through the chambers of power: Why participate in the electoral process if duly elected representatives can be ousted capriciously by a manipulated judiciary?
Akpata’s impassioned plea transcends the borders of Nigeria, resonating globally with legal practitioners, policymakers, and conscientious citizens. The International Bar Association (IBA), intended as a platform for global legal discourse, undergoes a transformation into a battlefield for a collective effort to restore the sanctity of the legal profession. The former NBA President’s call for a conscience war becomes a rallying cry, urging legal fraternities worldwide to confront the demons threatening the very foundations of justice.
As the echoes reverberate, the legal community faces a momentous choice. Will it rise to the occasion, dismantling the structures that harbor evildoers and impostors within the hallowed halls of justice? The call to conscience, resonating as both a plea and a challenge, beckons the world to witness the redemption of justice from the clutches of compromise, and the restoration of the noble pursuit of truth in the name of the law.
Professor John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria, to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American-based police and prison scientist and forensic, clinical, and legal psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical psychological services in the USA; and a former interim associate dean and assistant professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings. In 2011, he introduced state-of-the-art forensic psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C. and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He has taught at various universities and colleges including Florida memorial University, Florida International University, Broward college, Lynn University, and a contributing faculty member at the Weldios university in Benin Republic, Nexus International University, Uganda, Nova Southeastern University and Walden University in USA. He is a Human Rights Psychologist with a focus on African related environments. [email protected]
