The People vs The Courts: Why Africans Are Losing Faith in Justice

In courtrooms once believed to be sanctuaries of justice, many Africans now see theatre—an expensive drama in which the verdicts are written before the curtain rises. The gavel still falls, but for the ordinary citizen, it no longer echoes justice. A quiet war is brewing: The People vs The Courts.

Across Africa, faith in judicial institutions is collapsing under the weight of corruption, bias, delays, and elitism. From Nigeria’s chaotic courtrooms to Kenya’s high-profile judicial scandals, and from Uganda’s selective justice to South Africa’s politicized appointments, the story is disturbingly consistent: Justice is not for the people—it’s for the powerful.

A Continent-Wide Trust Crisis

A 2023 survey by Afrobarometer across 36 African countries revealed a chilling truth: Only 27% of Africans say they trust their courts “a lot.” In contrast, nearly half of all respondents say the courts serve the rich, the ruling class, and political insiders—not ordinary citizens.

In Nigeria, only 32% trust the courts. In Uganda, that number drops to 24%. In Kenya, protests have increasingly included anti-court slogans, with banners reading “The Court is Not Our Voice” appearing alongside calls for political reform.

“Justice in Africa is often delayed, and when it arrives, it’s distorted,” says Martha Otieno, a community activist in Nairobi’s Kibera slum. “We know the outcome before the judge speaks. If you don’t have money or a godfather, forget it.”

Protest Movements Are Now Targeting the Judiciary

Historically, African protests focused on corrupt politicians and bad governance. But now, courts themselves are becoming targets of public frustration.

In Uganda, 2022 saw a rare protest outside the Constitutional Court after a controversial ruling favoring a government land grab. In South Africa, student protestors from #FeesMustFall explicitly criticized court decisions criminalizing activists.

In Nigeria, the #EndSARS movement sparked legal reforms, but many protesters believe judges sabotaged justice by dismissing cases of police brutality on technicalities.

“People saw how the system worked,” says Chika Onuoha, a youth organizer in Lagos. “They killed our brothers, we filmed it, and yet the courts said there wasn’t enough evidence.”

Why Are Africans Losing Faith?

1. Corruption & Bribery

In 2021, Ghana’s celebrated investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas released explosive undercover footage of judges accepting goats, cash, and favors in exchange for judgments. The exposé shook the region—but sadly, it wasn’t surprising.

Kenyan legal watchdogs report over 60% of court users believe bribes influence outcomes. Judges accused of misconduct are rarely prosecuted; instead, they’re quietly transferred or promoted.

2. Political Interference

Courts are increasingly seen as extensions of ruling parties. In Zimbabwe, critics argue the judiciary functions as a legal arm of the state, with opposition leaders routinely denied bail while government allies enjoy impunity.

Uganda’s courts have come under fire for rubber-stamping authoritarian rule. When opposition leader Bobi Wine was detained without charge, court silence was deafening.

3. Delayed Justice

The phrase “justice delayed is justice denied” has become a cruel reality for thousands. In Nigeria, some suspects spend over a decade in pre-trial detention.

In Kenya, land cases can last 20 years or more, leaving families in limbo across generations. In Ghana and Malawi, simple divorce or inheritance matters can take five to ten years to resolve.

Voices from the Ground

Legal Africa spoke to several individuals whose lives have been shattered by their encounters with the courts:

• “My son was jailed for a crime he didn’t commit. The real criminal paid the judge,” says Esther, a street vendor in Accra, Ghana. “We had no money. We had no chance.”

• Simon, a landowner in western Kenya, recounts: “I won my case, but the other man bribed his way to get a new ruling. The judge changed his own judgment. I cried.”

• Ruth, a Tanzanian domestic worker, says: “When I was raped by my employer, the case disappeared. They told me ‘he is too powerful.’ So I stopped believing in courts.”

What Can Be Done?

Restoring trust in African judicial institutions requires more than policy—it requires transformation.

1. Independent Appointments

Judicial Service Commissions must be insulated from presidential influence. Judges should be appointed based on merit, not political loyalty.

2. Digital Transparency

Court proceedings should be live-streamed and recorded. Case tracking apps must be accessible to the public. Ghana and Kenya have made progress—but it must be scaled continent-wide.

3. Grassroots Legal Education

Citizens must be empowered to understand and demand their legal rights. Community paralegals and legal clinics are game changers.

4. Whistleblower Protection

Lawyers and court clerks who expose corruption should be protected, not punished. An independent body for judicial ethics is long overdue in most African states.

A Justice System on Trial

The irony is painful: the very courts meant to deliver justice now stand accused in the court of public opinion. For many Africans, the courtroom has become a place of fear, not fairness. Legal robes no longer inspire respect, but suspicion.

But all is not lost. Change is possible—if brave voices within the system rise up, if citizens demand more, and if we all agree that justice cannot continue to serve only the elite.

Because when people lose faith in courts, they seek justice elsewhere—and that’s when anarchy steps in.

Legal Africa will continue to amplify the voices of Africa’s forgotten litigants, expose judicial malpractice, and demand a future where justice is a right, not a luxury.

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