The Pathology of Judicialization: Politics, Corruption and the Courts in Nigeria

Ugochukwu Basil

The Law and Development Review, 2011, vol. 4, issue 3, 59-87

Abstract: Judicialization of politics, the practice whereby judicial power is expanded well beyond adjudication in purely orthodox terms to embrace the core of politics and governmental policy is becoming a global phenomenon. In this paper, I argue that despite its growing popularity and acceptability, the process of political judicialization should be contextually detailed. Using Nigeria as an example, I assert that, although there might be justification for judicial intervention in the countries of Africa, the prevalence of corruption in the judiciaries makes such intervention a double-edged sword, deserving adroit handling. I also argue that the judicialization of politics on the continent is fuel for corruption. As such, removing political questions from the courts, difficult as this might be, could be an important anti-corruption strategy.

Keywords: corruption; Nigeria; judicialization; courts; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.2202/1943-3867.1116

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