A study of bribery and corruption in Exodus 23: 8 and the Nigerian experience

Abstract

Bribery and corruption are social global phenomena that have generated debates among scholars. They are problems of routine deviation from established standards and norms by public officers and parties with whom they interact. It is widely held that bribery and corruption are the bane of the development of many nations in the world today. Previous studies on bribery and corruption have situated its cause in human weakness with little or no attention paid to divine position on the issue. This study examined Yahweh’s instruction to ancient Israel on bribery and corruption. Exodus 23: 8 was chosen as the text of investigation to establish Yahweh’s position on bribery. As a corollary, the study explored how Nigerians are expected to handle the issue of bribery and corruption in our contemporary time. African Biblical Hermeneutics that makes the Bible relevant in any culture and nation was used for the study. It was discovered that the level of corruption in ancient Israel and Nigeria was very high. Findings revealed that some Nigerian judges and leaders collect bribes to pervert the course of justice. The poor and the less privileged in society suffer injustice of all sorts in the hands of leaders and judges who have received bribes. These corrupt practices are partly responsible for the unrest, banditry, underdevelopment, unemployment and insecurity that have bedevilled our nation today. For Nigeria to stand tall in the comity of Nations her citizens must make justice and equity their watchword. Nigerians who are involved in Bribery and Corruption be sanctioned.