Corruption Identified as a Major Determinant of the Rule of Law in the Emerging Nigerian Democracy

Abstract

Corruption is a universal crime that pervades every human society. The "inseparable" relationship between mankind and corruption is akin to that of a goat and a yam. The distasteful and unpleasant practice that entails the use of entrusted powers for private gain compromises justice; impedes the rule of law and act antithetically to good governance. Though, corruption is a universal social vice, it has of recent acquired an inglorious reputation in Nigeria since the commencement of our present democratic experiment 1 I. Introduction . Only recently, Transparency International, the global corruption watchdog released its 2011 report wherein it ranked Nigeria as the 35th most corrupt nation in the world. This unenviable record needs redemption because, corruption is not a way of life, or a passing phase that Nigerians should indulge in; rather, it should be recognized as a problem that demand an urgent attention and resolution because of its attendant negative consequences on the rule of law. This article seeks to briefly explain the term corruption with a view to showing how it determines the rule of law. At the end, the article provides useful solutions as to how corruption can be curbed or brought, to the barest minimum in Nigeria.