Justice and Accountability as Tools for Peace

Ramatu Ada Ochekliye and Bitto Bryan on the ADBN Morning Express Talk Show on World Day for Peace

By Ramatu Ada Ochekliye

On September 22, 2025, I joined Bitto Bryan on the Advocacy Broadcast Network (ADBN) Morning Express show to mark the International Day of Peace. The theme for the 2025 International Day of Peace is “Act Now for a Peaceful World’’, which emphasizes urgent action to promote peace and unity globally.

Our conversation focused on why justice and accountability are vital tools for building peace in Nigeria. Below are some of the questions I was asked and the responses I shared.

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Question 1: How are justice and accountability directly linked to lasting peace in Nigeria?
Answer: Justice and accountability are the foundation of peace. Without them, grievances fester. Many communal conflicts in Nigeria are not simply about ethnicity or religion but about inequality and a present sense of injustice. When people believe the system is rigged, like when politicians or security agencies act with impunity, frustration builds and often spills into violence. That is why conflicts in Benue, Kaduna, Plateau, and even rising tribalism in Lagos have escalated today: something I hope never gets to a tipping point similar to the conflicts, clashes, and wars that mar our history.

Question 2: Can you share real-life examples of how corruption or inequality fueled unrest or violence?
Answer: Yes. In the Niger Delta, decades of oil exploration enriched elites but left local communities in poverty, with poisoned lands and water. Corruption diverted development funds, fueling militancy and groups like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND). In Zamfara and Katsina, illegal mining and government neglect created vacuums now filled by bandits. In Plateau, unequal political power-sharing between ethnic groups has triggered cycles of violence since the early 2000s. And the town I grew up in in Kaduna State, unequal development between the northern and southern regions allowed resentment to fester, allowing conflict to brew. 

Question 3: How does local government corruption affect everyday peace and security?
Answer: While I believe that maintaining security and law enforcement should remain at the Federal level, some things happen at the local government levels that can foster a ripe environment for rift, conflict, disputes, or all-out clashes. The funds for roads, schools, and security are often siphoned off. When communities lack basic infrastructure and security services, they turn to vigilante groups, especially when the crime rate becomes unbearable and people live in constant fear. Unfortunately, when such groups go unpaid—as has happened in some Northern states—they sometimes resort to extortion or crime themselves, worsening insecurity.

Question 4: What happens to people’s trust in the state when justice is delayed or denied?
Answer: I firmly believe in the saying that “justice delayed is justice denied”. This is a lived reality in Nigeria. Court cases drag on for years or collapse due to bribery. This erodes trust, leaving people to resort to mob justice, communal retaliation, or political violence. Recently in Abuja, the rise of the ‘one chance’ kidnapping and murderous gangs often went unattended. With the fear and angst among the citizens of the Federal Capital Territory, many people – especially women and girls – have begun to arm themselves with pepper sprays and tasers: even though, according to the Nigerian law, this is in itself a crime. A few weeks ago, we also had a case of jungle justice meted out to some alleged members of the notorious criminals. We really do not want to get to the point where more citizens think the only way they can stay safe is to take up their own protection themselves. When justice is delayed (and denied), this gradually becomes the case. 

Question 5: How can Nigeria strengthen institutions to deliver visible justice?
Answer: Some reforms are essential. For example, mobile courts were set up in various boroughs and communities to quickly address traffic violations in the Federal Capital Territory. This can be replicated to address various kinds of conflict and disputes that affect peace, whether they be domestic, interpersonal, or among large groups like tribal or religious factions. 

Other things that can be done include: 

• Fast-Track Courts for Corruption and Human Rights Cases
  Corruption trials and human rights violations drag on for years in Nigeria, sometimes even outliving the accused. By creating specialized fast-track courts, corruption and abuse of power can be dealt with swiftly. This ensures timely justice and also restores faith that no one is above the law. Countries like Kenya and South Africa already use specialized courts for similar issues, and Nigeria can learn from those models.
  
  

• Independent EFCC and ICPC, Free From Political Interference
  Our anti-corruption agencies are often seen as weapons in political battles rather than impartial watchdogs. Granting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) full operational autonomy—free from executive or legislative manipulation—will allow them to pursue cases on merit, not on political expediency. This would mean insulating their leadership from partisan appointments and guaranteeing funding that cannot be withheld as punishment.
  
  

• Digital Court Transparency Tools
  Justice thrives in the light. Imagine if Nigerians could track high-profile cases online in real time, view judgments as soon as they are delivered, and access a searchable database of ongoing trials. Transparency reduces manipulation, restores trust, and makes it harder for corruption cases to simply “disappear.” Countries like Estonia have pioneered e-justice systems, and Nigeria—with its vibrant tech ecosystem—has the talent to build its own.
  
  

• Better Training and Pay for Judges and Police Officers
  A poorly paid judiciary and police force will always be vulnerable to bribery. Increasing salaries is not charity; it’s a safeguard for integrity. Alongside pay reform, continuous training in ethics, case management, and human rights is essential. When officers and judges feel respected and properly equipped, they are less likely to undermine justice for personal gain.

Together, these reforms can make justice visible, not abstract, because justice needs to be delivered, but also seen to be delivered. People must see corrupt leaders convicted within reasonable timelines, human rights abusers punished without political cover, and ordinary citizens treated fairly in courts and police stations. Only then will justice stop being a slogan and start becoming a lived reality.

Question 6: Can you share a story where truth-telling made a difference?
Answer: Stories are often at the heart of conflicts, so it makes sense to assume that they can also be used to address conflicts. After the conflicts in the early 2000s, the former Governor of the State, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, brought together community leaders (religious, women, men, youth, etc) and other stakeholders to address most of the underlying causes and consequences of the clashes that led to the violence in the country. This was instrumental in first collating the stories that were being told and seeing what could be done differently. There was accountability on many sides, with clear-cut action plans for ending the conflict. This led to many people trusting the process, but also enabled the long road back to cohesion. 

Unfortunately, his work was upended by nefarious elements, and Kaduna continued to grapple with violence after he left office.

Question 7: How can storytelling show the human cost of injustice?
Answer: Stories humanize statistics. Saying “two million people displaced” is abstract, but telling Aisha’s story—a mother who walked 30km with her children after her village was attacked—brings it to life. Nollywood, music, and documentaries also shape national conversations. Artworks like Falz’s “This is Nigeria” prove storytelling can pressure leaders by capturing public emotion. And at Shades of Us, we are using stories to expand ideas about peace, ending insecurity, humanizing the aftereffects of conflict, and sharing viable ways to maintain the peace. One recent story I wrote is my fictional piece called Ginger. In this story, I look at the life of Shiana, a girl from Benue State who lost her father due to senseless attacks by marauding herders. I also shared how Bitto, our TV host, was using this interview to address the factors that remove peace from our communities, and why this is important. 

Question 8: How can ordinary Nigerians hold leaders accountable today?
Answer: I didn't have time to expand on this, but it is critical to the conversation. I am glad that technology has changed the game. For a long time, citizens felt powerless in the face of corruption, but technology and civic innovation have changed the game. Today, ordinary Nigerians have access to practical tools that make accountability easier and more effective:

1. BudgIT – tracking government spending
   BudgIT takes the complexity out of national and state budgets by breaking them down into simple, easy-to-understand infographics and data. Ordinary Nigerians who may not be accountants or economists can now see where government money is supposed to go. This transparency allows citizens to compare promises with actual outcomes and to question when money disappears into thin air.
   
   

2. Tracka – monitoring constituency projects
   Tracka enables citizens to follow up on projects that lawmakers and public officials claim to have executed—whether it is a borehole, a school, or a health center. Through photos, updates, and citizen reports, communities can expose “ghost projects” or substandard work. With this tool, leaders can no longer hide behind paperwork; communities have evidence to demand accountability.
   
   

3. Follow the Money – exposing project fraud
   This initiative specializes in investigating development funds and donor money, ensuring that resources meant for communities actually reach them. From health care to education to environmental programs, Follow the Money tracks where funds are allocated and calls out diversions. Their work has often pressured governments into completing abandoned projects or releasing funds that were deliberately delayed.
   
   

4. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) – demanding public records
   The FOIA gives every Nigerian the legal right to request information from public institutions. While still underused, it is a powerful tool for uncovering hidden details about contracts, budgets, and official decisions. By formally invoking the FOIA, citizens and journalists can pierce the culture of secrecy that fuels corruption.
   
   

5. TechHer – tackling online violence and digital accountability
   TechHer uses its platform to track and report online violence, including that targeted at women and girls. By documenting harassment, cyberbullying, and digital rights abuses, TechHer not only protects vulnerable groups but also pressures platforms and policymakers to address digital safety. In a country where gender-based violence often extends into online spaces, this work ensures that accountability is not just physical and financial but also digital.
   
   

6. Social media – real-time reporting and whistleblowing
   Platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have become virtual town halls where citizens share evidence of corruption, abuse, and failed governance. A viral video of a half-finished project or an audio recording of bribery can spread nationwide in hours, forcing officials to respond. We also use these platforms for our Forum Fridays, our now monthly sessions where we analyze topical issues like the one we did on the attacks in Benue that left more than 200 people dead, and multiple people displaced. Social media amplifies citizen voices, connects communities, and brings local issues to global attention.

Question 9: What role do young people play in creating accountability systems?
Answer: Together, the tools I mentioned above show that accountability is no longer the sole responsibility of government watchdogs or civil society organizations. Every Nigerian, especially every young person with a smartphone, can be a monitor, a reporter, and a whistleblower. The more people use these platforms, the harder it becomes for corruption and abuse to hide in the shadows.

Question 10: What gives you hope that Nigeria can overcome injustice?
Answer: The resilience and energy of Nigerian youth. Civil society and the media are bolder than ever. Judicial wins, though few, are happening—such as asset forfeitures from corrupt ex-governors. New digital tools give citizens more power. And most importantly, the fact that we are even having these conversations on platforms like ADBN shows that progress is possible.

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Conclusion

At the heart of it all, peace is not just the absence of war—it is the presence of justice. Without accountability, every act of corruption, every abuse of power, and every denial of rights becomes a seed of conflict waiting to grow. Yet, as we have seen, Nigerians are not helpless. From tech platforms that expose fraud to young people who mobilize for change, from women who refuse to be silenced to citizens who demand their rights, the tools for justice are already in our hands.

The journey is long, but every step toward accountability is a step toward peace. And if we continue to demand better, tell our stories, and use the platforms available to us, Nigeria can indeed move from a cycle of impunity to a future built on fairness, dignity, and lasting peace.

Watch the full interview here.