Justice Mabel Segun-Bello, a Federal High Court judge, has disclosed that promotions to certain positions within Nigeria’s judiciary are influenced by presidential support and political party affiliations.

“To become a federal judge, you need the backing of the presidency or support from a political party,” Mrs Segun-Bello said speaking at the 2024 Clarity Conference held in Abuja on Saturday.

She, however, explained that her rise to the position of a Federal High Court judge was without the backing of the presidency or political party.

“I had neither (backing from presidency or political party). This goes to show that principles, when applied universally, can make anything possible.”

Mrs Segun-Bello’s revelation raises concerns about the independence of Nigeria’s judiciary, suggesting that promotions within the system are subject to political influence.

Different reports by People Gazette have exposed how Chief Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and other high-ranking judicial officials have influenced the promotion of their relatives, often at the expense of other professionals’ careers. 

In July, the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that judges and magistrates in Nigeria received the highest amount of bribes among public officials in 2023, surpassing even the police, customs, and military personnel.