A new report from Afrobarometer, a leading African research network, reveals that only half of Africans have confidence in the formal court system to deliver justice. Based on 50,961 interviews across 38 African countries conducted in 2024/2025, the study shows that many citizens rely on both formal and informal justice mechanisms, including traditional leaders and elders.
Confidence in Courts Remains Low
According to the report, just 50 percent of Africans believe ordinary people can obtain justice through the courts. Perceptions of fairness and timeliness are similarly weak. The majority of respondents say people are frequently treated unequally under the law, and nearly half think powerful individuals who break the law get off too lightly.
Inequality in Penalties
The Pan-African, non-partisan survey found that concerns about inequality extend to court penalties. Almost half of respondents said the powerful receive lenient treatment, while only 13 percent said the same for ordinary citizens.
Nigerian Scholar Warns of Judicial Manipulation
Professor Osaretin George Izevbuwa, a law professor at Igbinedion University Okada and deputy vice chancellor, delivered a keynote paper at the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin Branch. Titled "Justice for Sale: Who Truly Pays the Price?", he argued that corruption, political interference, and judicial manipulation are turning justice into a commodity, threatening democracy, economic growth, and public trust.
Impact on Ordinary Nigerians
Izevbuwa stressed that while the wealthy and politically connected may benefit from a compromised system, ordinary Nigerians bear the heaviest burden. He identified bribery, forum shopping, conflicting court orders, manipulation of court processes, and interference with case files as major channels compromising justice. He emphasized that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, and once processes become susceptible to influence, the foundation of constitutional democracy begins to crumble.
