The Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ilorin branch, Kwara State, Mr. Rafiu Balogun, at the weekend, said if corruption in judiciary was allowed to thrive, the hope of Nigerians to have a stable economic and political development would be a mirage.

Balogun, who spoke with THISDAY in Ilorin, on the state of the nation, said the nation’s hope to sanitise the whole society rests on judiciary.

According to him, “our hope in sanitising the system is in judiciary hence judges and justices should above board in the adjudication of issues in their respective court of justices.”

He said: “Corruption in the other two arms of government is bad but it is worst if it concerns judiciary as justices and judges must be above board and do justices to all irrespective of race, status or personality involved.”

Balogun, who lauded the recent sack of two judges in the country by the leadership of the National Judicial Council (NJC)for their alleged corrupt practices said: “If corruption thrives or allow to thrive in the judiciary, then the fight against corruption in Nigeria would not be realistic.”

He added: “Apart from this, our nation would remain backward in the comity of nations.”
Balogun opined that justices and judges should shun corruption like plaque and do justice according to law and should not allowed to be used by political office holders.

He, therefore, commended the present leadership of the NJC for showing leadership zeal worth of emulation by other corporate bodies and unions in the country so as to tackle the menace of corruption in the society.