OPINION: The Intersectionality of Corruption, Economic and Financial Crimes, and Marginalised Women in Nigeria By Augusta Yaakugh, MCiArb.

In Nigeria, corruption, economic and financial crimes remain deeply rooted problems that have long eroded the foundations of justice, equality, and development. For many Nigerians, these issues have become a part of daily
life—almost an expected norm. Yet, for some, the stakes are even higher. Marginalised women in Nigeria, already facing numerous societal barriers, bear a disproportionate burden of the consequences of corruption and economic crimes. Their stories are not often heard, their struggles not often seen, but the impact on their lives is severe and must be addressed.

Marginalised Women: Who Are They?

When we speak of marginalised women, we refer to those who are pushed to the edges of society, often deprived of opportunities, basic rights, and access to services. These women include those living in poverty, women with
disabilities, female sex workers, women living with HIV, lesbian and bisexual women, and those who are simply vulnerable due to their socio-economic status or geography. Many of these women exist in informal sectors of the economy, such as street vending, small-scale farming, or domestic work. Others may find themselves caught in more precarious, even criminalized, livelihoods, such as drug trading or sex work, as a means of survival.

For these women, corruption is not just a political issue—it is a direct, daily obstacle to survival and dignity.

The Impact of Corruption on Marginalised Women

Corruption steals from everyone, but it steals the most from those who have the least. For marginalised women, the effects of corruption can be devastating, stripping them of access to the very services and protections they need to thrive.

In the healthcare system, for instance, corruption manifests in poor services, unaffordable medical fees, and bribes for treatment. Women who lack the means to pay these bribes may be denied essential healthcare, even during pregnancy or childbirth. For women living with HIV or those needing access to sexual and reproductive health services, this often translates to untreated illnesses, unwanted pregnancies, or even death. The bribes demanded in public hospitals mean life-threatening delays in care for women who cannot afford them, leaving many to suffer in silence.

Corruption also limits access to education for marginalised girls and women. In many rural or low-income areas, funds meant for public schools are syphoned off by corrupt officials, leaving classrooms without teachers, books, or basic infrastructure. Without a solid education, marginalised women are further locked out of economic opportunities, their chances of escaping poverty slim to none.

Moreover, government programs meant to uplift the most vulnerable women—microcredit schemes, poverty alleviation programs, business grants—often fail due to the same corrupt practices. These programs are designed to help marginalised women stand on their own feet. Yet, when corruption diverts resources into the hands of a few, those who need the help most remain excluded, unable to access the capital and training needed to start or expand their small businesses.

The Role of Economic and Financial Crimes

Economic crimes, particularly those committed by Nigeria’s elites, deepen this inequality. As vast sums of money are syphoned from public coffers and hidden in private accounts, the resources meant to build better schools, healthcare facilities, and social welfare systems disappear. The cost of living rises, but wages stagnate. The divide between the rich and the poor grows ever wider, leaving marginalised women at the very bottom of society’s economic ladder.

For women in the informal economy, the impact is direct. Women who run small businesses or engage in petty trading are often subjected to bribes and extortion from local authorities or police officers. In cases where these women are unable to pay, they are harassed, arrested, or pushed out of their means of livelihood altogether. For some, the only alternative is to engage in illegal activities—such as sex work or small-scale drug trading—simply to survive.

This cycle of criminalization does not end with arrest. Once marginalised women are entangled in the criminal justice system, corruption within law enforcement and the courts ensures they are further victimised. Bribes are demanded for bail, fair trials, or even basic legal representation. Many of these women lack the financial resources to pay, leaving them languishing in detention or sentenced for crimes that often stemmed from their economic desperation.

Through my work at the FeminaJustice Project, I have seen firsthand the heartbreaking cases of women remanded in prison for petty crimes—sex work, stealing food, or trying to make ends meet in an economy that offers them little support. Without funds to secure their freedom or legal representation, they are left to languish behind bars, further marginalised by ba system that is meant to protect them.

A Call for Empathy and Action

The intersectionality of corruption, economic crimes, and the plight of marginalised women in Nigeria reveals a system that is failing those who need it the most. These women, often invisible in the broader narratives of development or anti-corruption efforts, must be brought to the forefront of our conversations. We cannot speak of tackling corruption without addressing how it disproportionately affects the most vulnerable among us—women who are struggling not just for equality but for survival.

Empathy for these women begins with understanding the obstacles they face and the ways in which corruption and financial crimes limit their opportunities for justice, health, and economic empowerment. But empathy must also lead to action. We need reforms that specifically target the intersection of corruption and gender, ensuring that resources reach marginalised women, and that they are not left behind in the fight against poverty and inequality.

It is time to hold accountable those who exploit the weak and divert resources meant to uplift the poor. It is time to build systems that work for everyone, not just for the rich and powerful. And it is time for Nigeria to recognize that the true measure of its progress lies not in the wealth of its elites, but in the dignity, empowerment, and well-being of its most marginalised citizens—its women.

Augusta Yaakugh, MCiArb.
Executive Director, Lex Initiative for Rights Advocacy and Development (LIRAD)