In the Republic, Plato makes a strong connection between the city and the soul, arguing that as is the city, so is the human soul. Both, he said, have a tripartite nature, corresponding to the rational/intellect-loving, appetitive/willing, and enthusiastic/respect-seeking elements. The Bible defines the three elements of the soul as mind, emotion, and will. The ideal state, like the ideal individual, is a person with a healthy, unaffected soul. Because, as Plato and the Bible make clear, a tormented soul is the enemy of the body and soul.
Sadly, in body, soul and spirit, Nigeria is an unhealthy nation. Nigeria's institutions, that is, its political and governance structures, are deeply flawed. Despite its righteousness its spirit is bad. Nigeria is arguably the most religious country in the world, but it is not a God-fearing, religious country. And when it comes to its soul, that is, the rational/truth/intellect/honor-seeking elements, Nigeria is completely decadent, with no sense of right and wrong, no sense of public morality, and no virtue-defining moral guidelines!
All this came to mind recently as I reflected on the global consequences of the Epstein files. For those who may not know, the Epstein files relate to the entanglements of some of the world's most powerful people with American billionaire-financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was jailed for trafficking underage girls for sex and who committed suicide in prison. In December 2025 and also in January 2026, following increasing global pressure, the US Department of Justice released several Epstein files. The files revealed how prominent figures from around the world – politicians, royalty and corporate leaders – linked with Epstein for decades. The reaction was swift and infectious.
In the UK, Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, was stripped of his Duke of York title and even lost the title of “Prince”, which was considered his birthright! Later he was arrested. Former Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Peter Mandelson, was dismissed as Britain's Ambassador to the US and forced to resign from the House of Lords, as the government is preparing a law to strip him of the title of “Lord”. He was also arrested. In the US, former President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, a former senator and secretary of state, were summoned to Congress to give their side of the Epstein story. The Epstein files also decimated President Trump's MAGA base, turning some of his staunchest loyalists like Marjorie Taylor Greene against him.
All this made me think about Nigeria. Well, not because so far any Nigerian politician or corporate leader has been linked to the Epstein case, but because abuse of power and misconduct in public office are not only prevalent in Nigeria, but they are also normalized and treated equally. This is a country where a President will appoint people as ambassadors who have absolutely no integrity; A country where ministers have files linked to corruption with the EFCC; A country where people continue to hold ministerial or public office despite credible allegations of inappropriate behaviour!
Even in the face of clear evidence of misconduct, the common excuse is that no one has been convicted by a court. But Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had not been convicted of any crime before he was stripped of his royal titles. Mandelson was found not guilty of any crime before being removed from his post as Britain's ambassador to the United States and expelled from the House of Lords. Under the UK Ministerial Code, a minister “must ensure” that no conflict of interest arises “or reasonably appears to arise” in the performance of his or her duties, and ministers must “behave in a manner that upholds the highest standards of propriety.” Any alleged breach of the ministerial code or principles of public life will be investigated by an independent ombudsman, and a finding of guilt will always result in resignation or dismissal without court punishment. The principle is simple: holding public office is a privilege, and only high standards of behavior will suffice.
“But in Nigeria, a President will appoint or keep anyone in his cabinet and government even if there is a thick cloud of impropriety hanging over his head. And, undoubtedly, Nigeria's “anti-corruption” agencies lack the necessary political independence to perform their duties without fear or favor.”
But in Nigeria, a President will appoint or keep anyone in his cabinet and government even if there is a thick cloud of impropriety hanging over his head. And, of course, Nigeria's “anti-corruption” agencies lack the necessary political independence to perform their duties without fear or favor. For example, the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB requires the approval of the Attorney-General of the Federation to prosecute someone in the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, similarly the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission, ICPC also requires the same. But the AGF, a partisan politician, has a vested interest in such matters. As for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the EFCC, in theory, it can prosecute independently, but in practice, it is neither immune to political interference nor from it. Furthermore, it is operationally and judicially completely impotent.
Truth be told, taking corruption or malpractice cases to court in Nigeria is a dead end, a crime. For example, the CCB may take a case to court, the CCT or the EFCC. But, in reality, they are simply putting the case on hold as it will drag on for years and eventually be dismissed because “the prosecution failed to prove its charges”. The court/tribunal is not interested in the accused proving the source of his immense wealth. It's always a phantom test!
Last year, EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede staked his future in the EFCC on corruption allegations against former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, saying: “If Yahaya Bello is not prosecuted I will resign.” Recently, when challenged about his pledge, Olukoyede replied: “Have I not fulfilled the promise of commitment? Is Yahaya Bello not being prosecuted?” But what would he say about President Tinubu's lavish birthday message to Bello and his inclusion of Bello in a prominent role in his re-election bid? Does Olukoyede not feel that Bello's trial has already been compromised with such high-level presidential interest? Serious countries don't deal with endemic corruption this way.
Which leads me to another pathology that hardly anyone talks or cares about in Nigeria: the role of “gifts” in promoting corruption. According to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, UNCAC, acceptance of gifts by public officials is a major factor promoting corruption. As a result, gifts to public officials are strictly regulated in many countries. But not in Nigeria. Section 3 of the 5th Schedule of the Constitution allows a public officer to receive “personal gifts or benefits from relatives or personal friends to the extent and on such occasions as are recognized by custom.” But how much is “recognized by custom”? Which custom? And shouldn't such gifts be registered and the givers disclosed? Recently, former AGF, Abubakar Malami said that of the N8.7bn he allegedly looted, N958m were “traditional gifts received from personal friends”. But shouldn’t Nigerians know who “personal friends” are? In the UK, no public official will receive £521,330 (equivalent to N958mn) from individual friends without declaring the money and the identities of the friends in a register.
But do Nigerians really care? Well, in a high-powered society defined by top-down, patron-client relationships, hardly anyone cares about corrupt enrichment by public officials. Culturally, the kind of bottom-up pressure that led to the global fallout of the Epstein files does not exist in Nigeria. As Plato said, “The virtuous society and the virtuous individual are in fact identical in virtue.” Sadly, Nigeria is the epitome of corruption and misconduct in public life, precisely because there are too few good people to give birth to a good society. But Nigeria's future depends on the existence of a critical mass of enlightened citizens who can hold the feet of their leaders to the fire!
