Let me go straight to the point because I write with mixed feelings — fear and anger.
Do you even know what it means to face the courts with a compromised judge overseeing your matter?
The Judiciary, for over a decade now, has turned into a caricature of what it used to be.
I dare say that Nigerians aged 40 and below have not been availed of the very best in judicial standards.
We hear all sorts of stories, leaving Nigerians with a growing fear that justice has been held to ransom by the very people who have taken vows to uphold it.
In Nigeria, that statue of the fair lady holding the scales with her eyes blindfolded has been desecrated.
Her eyes are now wide open, and she can clearly see the colours of corruption and malfeasance.
As I was relaxing on my own, I stumbled on two news reports from two well-respected journals — The Cable and Premium Times.
Apparently, Premium Times, following a month-long investigation, revealed that Justice Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, was alleged not to have declared all his assets, contrary to the Code of Conduct rules that guide such matters.
The report was very detailed and listed accounts with UBA that were allegedly not included in his asset declaration forms.
Another account with Access Bank was also not declared, and these accounts reportedly include both Naira and domiciliary accounts.
Now, if this report by the highly regarded Premium Times, corroborated by the equally respected Cable online platform, turns out to be true, then the appropriate authorities should not hesitate to act and use this as an opportunity to send a strong signal to his colleagues.
The punishment for this is removal from office and a 10-year ban from public office.
I am openly soliciting maximum punishment if he is eventually found guilty.
My position stems from the fact that, as Chief Judge, such decisive action would send a striking warning to the Judiciary as a whole that things will no longer be business as usual.
The entire Judiciary is under stress.
Almost daily, we hear allegations of “pay-for-judgment” practices — where people boast and say “go to court” in a derogatory manner, reflecting the level to which the institution has fallen.
As we speak, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria has been charged with forgery and money laundering.
Big law firms are enmeshed in scandalous corruption allegations, among many other acts of malfeasance that would make the great Justices Oputa, Darnley Alexander, and Adetokunbo Ademola — to mention a few — wake up and die again in shame.
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who is the Chief Justice of Nigeria, is an erudite and principled champion of due process.
She came into office with an admirable mantra of leading reforms that would clear the Augean stable she inherited.
This is her best chance to show that she means business.
This one strike will recalibrate the system automatically because it would dismantle the very nexus of corruption and restore confidence.
Madam, do not tarry. Strike, and watch the Judiciary — your constituency — regain its composure and integrity.
Hit the head, and watch the whole body of corruption wither and slide into the Lagoon of extinction.
Justice John Tsoho should face the necessary scrutiny and, if found guilty, must go — and be banned for those 10 years. Simple.
He may come and beat me.
Thanks.
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: February 26, 2026
