President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged the nation’s judiciary to safeguard its honour by upholding integrity, warning that no reform—no matter how ambitious—can succeed if the Bench is perceived as compromised.
Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference at the National Judicial Institute, President Tinubu said the legitimacy of the courts rests not only on the clarity of their judgments but on the confidence Nigerians have in their fairness.
“Confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” the President told a gathering of serving and retired top jurists. “A judgment may be grounded in law, but unless the public perceives it to be fair and untainted, its moral authority is diminished.”
He acknowledged that Nigerians have raised concerns about delays in trials, integrity issues, and access to justice—issues he said must be confronted if democracy is to remain stable. “Justice exists for the people. Their faith in the process is the foundation of our national stability,” he said.
Tinubu stressed that the real strength of the judiciary lies not in buildings or technology but in the men and women who interpret the law. Judicial welfare, training, and independence, he noted, are “imperatives, not privileges.”
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting the courts, the President said his government will improve judicial infrastructure, fast-track digitisation, and ensure courts no longer “remain places where cases languish for years.” He declared that swift and transparent justice is essential to national prosperity.
The President also praised the judiciary for its historical role as Nigeria’s stabilising force, noting that judges have repeatedly upheld constitutional order during turbulent times. “Whenever Nigeria has faced moments of uncertainty, the judiciary stood firm,” Tinubu said.
On modernisation, he pledged sustained support for the National Judicial Institute and committed to expanding digital court systems, integrated case management, and secure facilities to build “a transparent judiciary that deepens accountability and public trust.”
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, expressed gratitude for the President’s support, urging judges to embody “incorruptible honour” as custodians of justice. She described the biennial conference as a vital platform for strengthening ethics and improving institutional performance.
The event drew former and serving Chief Justices, Appeal Court Presidents, Supreme Court and Appeal Court Justices, Heads of Courts, and judges from across the federation.
The conference continues with sessions on ethics, reforms, judicial independence, and the future of justice delivery in Nigeria.
