The Centre is conducting a study on Behavioural Insights on Ethical Norms in the Justice Administration. As part of the project, the Centre undertook an interdisciplinary
study of corruption in the Nigerian judicial sector with the support of the Macarthur Foundation which progressed into the coding and analyses of field data phase this December, 2022.
Pre-Data Collation Workshop for Researchers May 2022
Dr Kole Shettima Director MacArthur Foundation addresses Researchers at the Workshop in May 2022
The Study duly acknowledges that the anti-corruption fight needs reform champions in critical sectors, including the Judiciary. It also acknowledges the shortcoming existing literature on anti-corruption that focus exclusively on legal frameworks and ignores the social and ethical milieu in which judicial activity exists. The Study is thus adopting behavioural change strategies and ethics to address the problem of corruption in the judicial sector.
Dr Sesan Peter, Analyst and Prof Victor Adetula, Project coordinator at the workshop
Dr Suzzie Oyakhire Member PMC and Juritrust Lead Prof Adekunle compare notes at the May workshop
The first phase of the Study surveyed through the use of semi structured interviews perceptions, opinions and viewpoints of Judicial Officers and other stakeholders in the judicial sector on the scope, forms and social context of corruption in the Nigerian judiciary. 18 state judiciaries collaborated with the Centre on the Project which aims to also share preliminary results with the collaborating states in experience sharing interactive sessions planned for the second phase of the project. Prior to the deployment of the Researchers to start the survey, they were invited to Abuja for a two-day training workshop. The training workshop held at Blue Springs Hotel, Abuja in May 2022. The training workshop was intended to educate the Researchers on the Study’s objectives, to familiarize the Researchers with the research tools to be used during the interviews and to also communicate the appropriate manner to be adopted by the Researcher when seeking and conducting the interviews.
The project will lead to the publication of a research report on the findings of the Study which is expected to aid in the understanding of the issue of corruption in the Nigerian judicial sector.