In a significant move to combat corruption in the Nigerian judiciary, a bill that would grant the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) the authority to remove corrupt judges through a no-confidence vote passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
Sponsored by Afam Ogene, a member of the Labour Party (LP) representing Ogbaru federal constituency in Anambra, the proposed legislation seeks to amend key sections of the 1999 Constitution, specifically sections 231, 238, 250, 256, and 271, which currently govern the process for removing judges.
The bill aims to introduce a critical change by giving the NBA the power to review petitions against judicial officers, hear their defense, and, if deemed necessary, hold a vote of no confidence.
If two-thirds of NBA members at their annual general meeting or conference vote in favor of the motion, the accused judge’s tenure would be immediately terminated, and the judge would be legally considered to have resigned from office.
Currently, the constitution outlines that judicial officers such as the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Court of Appeal, and other senior judicial figures can only be removed through a complex procedure involving the President and a two-thirds Senate majority.
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For state judicial officers, removal depends on the governor and the state house of assembly.
The proposed legislation, however, would allow the NBA to step in, offering an alternative disciplinary mechanism, as Ogene believes that the National Judicial Council (NJC) is no longer effective in curbing corruption within the judiciary.
Ogene stressed that the bill is designed to empower the NBA to take a proactive role in ensuring that corrupt judicial officers are held accountable, providing a much-needed check on the judiciary’s integrity.
“This legislation presents a viable solution to the ongoing rot in our justice system,” Ogene explained, signaling a shift toward more accountability and transparency in the Nigerian judiciary.
The bill’s progress through the legislative process marks an important step in efforts to ensure greater integrity and public trust in Nigeria’s judicial system.
 the authority to remove corrupt judges through a no-confidence vote passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.){kind=link}