Selling Justice for Profit Undermines Rule of Law, Says Fagbemi 

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja 

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, yesterday called for a concerted fight against corruption, stressing that the sale of justice undermines the fabrics of equality before the law.

Speaking in Abuja at the commemoration of the African Anti-Corruption Day 2025, coordinated by the Inter-Agency Task Team (IATT) and its secretariat, the Technical Unit on Governance and Anti-corruption Reforms (TUGAR) led by Jane Onwumere, Fagbemi argued that the fight against corruption is not just a political imperative, but a moral obligation.

Besides robbing governments of resources that could be used for essential public services, Fagbemi, who was represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, stated that it erodes trust in institutions and undermines the foundation of democratic societies.

The commemoration of the African Anti-Corruption Day 2025 themed: ‘Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption’, Fagbemi maintained that beyond the statistics and financial implications, corruption represents a direct affront to human dignity, emphasising that graft is not merely a breach of law or failure of governance, but a profound violation of human rights and dignity.

“When public funds meant for hospitals are diverted, it is not just policy failure, it is a denial of the right to life and health. When education budgets are misappropriated, it deprives generations of their future. When justice is traded for profit, it dismantles the very fabric of equality before the law.

“And this is why the fight against corruption is not just a political imperative, but a moral obligation. It is about defending the inherent values of our society, of our humanity, regardless of our socio-economic standard. 

“Our commitment to combating corruption, therefore, must go hand in hand with steadfast dedication to the rule of law, due process, and protection of civil liberties,” the minister said.

He stated that as Nigeria builds resilient institutions, it must also maintain a culture of dignity where every Nigerian is treated fairly and every public institution sees service as a moral duty. 

“While our commitment to fighting corruption is unshakable, we must be compliant with our commitment to human rights, the rule of law, and the principles of due process that guide and guard our activities within the public space. It is important, also, that law enforcement actions do not trample on civil liberties,” he advised.

In her remarks, the head of TUGAR, Onwumere, said that the gathering signified a shared commitment in the fight against corruption and also a testament to a desire to eradicate graft and improve the lives of Nigerian citizens and Africans at large. 

Describing corruption as a complex issue with far-reaching consequences, Onwumere pointed out that it strips people of human dignity, which demands that every person has intrinsic worth and deserves to be valued and respected.

“This year’s theme challenges us to connect the dots between integrity and human dignity in order to ensure that our anti-corruption strategies do not merely punish wrongdoing, but protect the rights and well-being of every citizen.

“Just as we have collectively developed mechanisms and strategies to block illicit financial flows, manage recovered stolen assets and prescribed punitive measures to curb corruption, we are once again called upon to put our resources to good use to integrate the protection of human rights in our fight against corruption.

“For a government to be accountable, transparent, responsible and fair, it must be built on the foundation of respecting and preserving the rights of her citizens. Therefore, the protection of human rights must be integrated as an integral part in the fight against corruption,” she added.

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Orji, argued that corruption deprives Nigerians of access to education, healthcare, clean water, and justice.

According to him, it fuels poverty, undermines democracy, and erodes trust in public institutions, noting that NEITI is currently confronting corruption through facts, disclosures, civic engagement, and institutional partnerships.

“Let me be clear: corruption can be defeated—but only through credible data, political will, empowered citizens, and regional solidarity,” he added.

Now in its 8th edition, the African Anti-corruption Day, was organised with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Union/IDEA Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC II) Programme, the MacArthur Foundation and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD).