Abstract

The role of the judiciary in a democratic state cannot be overemphasized across the globe. It is an arm of government established to interpret the law and adjudicate on any matters brought before it. In Nigeria, the contributions of the judiciary to governance and democratic sustainability have been characterized by controversies since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999. Some argue that the judiciary has significantly improved good governance in Nigeria while some have contrary views on this assumption. It is against this background that this paper evaluates the activities of the judicial arm of government in Nigeria. Relying on secondary data, the paper notes that there are some cases of unprofessional conduct among some judicial officers in the cause of discharging their duty which makes the general public lose faith in the institution that is popularly seen as the last hope of the common. Consequently, the paper concludes that as one of the sensitive arms of government, the Nigerian judicial system needs to be proactive and more sensitive in discharging its official mandate in the country.