The Centre for Judicial Integrity (CJI) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission (ICPC) to investigate claims that the Benue State government allocated ₦500 million to bribe members of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The CJI’s demand comes amid ongoing strikes by Benue’s judiciary staff, which began in December 2024, protesting the government’s failure to implement the new ₦75,000 minimum wage.
CJI Convener, Solomon Adodo, addressed the press in Abuja on Monday, accusing state officials of attempting to influence the NJC’s decision on the removal of Benue’s Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Maurice Ikpambese. Adodo alleged that the sum was channeled through three state officials who repeatedly traveled to Abuja to lobby NJC members.
The CJI condemned the Benue government’s actions, warning of the potential risks posed by political interference in the judiciary. They also praised NJC members who reportedly refused to accept the alleged bribe, emphasizing their commitment to upholding judicial integrity.
The Centre further criticized the Benue state administration for allowing the judiciary to remain paralyzed instead of engaging in dialogue and effective governance. The lack of understanding of the judiciary’s critical role in democracy, according to CJI, points to a broader issue of governance and public service failure under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The CJI is urging anti-corruption agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the alleged ₦500 million misallocation, and called on the NJC to protect the judiciary from external pressures and ensure impartiality in all proceedings concerning judicial officers.
