By SUNTV Global Channel | January 25, 2026
Nigeria’s deepening crisis over unpaid judicial pensions is not a question of fate or karma—it is a systemic failure that threatens the very foundation of judicial independence. This is the central argument made by human rights lawyer and scholar, Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, as troubling stories continue to emerge across the country.
International standards are clear. Principle 11 of the United Nations Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (1985) states that judges’ tenure, remuneration, pensions, and conditions of service must be adequately secured by law. Yet in Nigeria, many judges who served with distinction now spend their retirement years fighting for benefits guaranteed to them by the Constitution.
One such case is that of Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson, a former judge of the Lagos State High Court. Appointed at 45, fluent in several languages and widely respected for his integrity and intellect, Candide-Johnson retired in June 2021 after 20 years on the bench, where he last served as Head of the Family Court.
At his retirement, Lagos State Chief Judge Justice Kazeem Alogba praised him as “brilliant, hardworking, meticulous and fearless.” But within nine months, the same judge was back in court—this time as a litigant—suing the Lagos State Government for unpaid pension, severance gratuity, and other entitlements.
Initially, the Lagos State Government attempted to deflect responsibility, claiming judicial pensions fell under the Judicial Service Commission. Faced with public scrutiny, the state later opted for an amicable settlement. Candide-Johnson was not alone. In 2022, at least five other retired Lagos judges also sued the state over unpaid benefits.
Similar battles have played out nationwide. In Abia State, 22 retired judges dragged the government to the National Industrial Court in 2020 after years of neglect by successive administrations. Promises of monthly payments reportedly collapsed after just one installment. As the case dragged on for three years, at least five of the retired judges reportedly died in poverty. Relief only came in 2023, when a new governor agreed to clear a 16-year backlog of pension liabilities.
From Ondo to Imo, Ogun to Oyo, retired judges have increasingly turned to litigation to enforce their rights. In Kogi State, eight retired judges—including a former Chief Judge—have recently issued pre-action notices, signaling yet another legal showdown.
Until recently, Nigeria’s Constitution specified how judicial pensions should be calculated but left gaps in how they should be funded and administered. A constitutional amendment in June 2023 transferred responsibility for judicial pensions to the National Judicial Council (NJC). However, this reform did not resolve massive arrears owed to judges who retired before that date—and may have introduced new complications.
Odinkalu argues that the NJC itself bears responsibility for years of inaction. In January 2023, the Council acknowledged that many states were owing retired judges, calling the situation “worrisome.” Yet it failed to name defaulting states, disclose amounts owed, or outline concrete enforcement measures. Since then, sustained follow-up has been largely absent.
The consequences are severe. Judicial neglect corrodes morale, weakens institutions, and sends a dangerous signal to serving judges. With many appointed to the bench later in life, delays in pension payments can be devastating. In states like Taraba, several judges who retired before 2023 reportedly died while waiting endlessly for their entitlements.
The vacuum has also attracted criminal exploitation. In 2024, the NJC warned that fraudsters were targeting retired judges with fake promises to “fast-track” pension payments in exchange for money—a symptom of desperation created by official failure.
Some critics claim the suffering of retired judges is a form of karmic justice tied to alleged corruption within the judiciary. Odinkalu rejects this narrative as simplistic and dangerous. While judicial misconduct must be addressed, collective punishment through pension neglect undermines the rule of law and creates perverse incentives—encouraging compromised judgments as judges seek security before retirement.
At stake, he warns, is more than welfare. It is the credibility of the courts, the independence of the judiciary, and public confidence in constitutional governance. The distinction between judges who retired before and after June 2023, he argues, is artificial and unjust.
For Nigeria, resolving the judicial pension crisis is not optional—it is existential. Without urgent, coordinated action by the NJC and governments at all levels, the promise of an independent judiciary risks becoming a constitutional illusion.
SUNTV Global Channel
