President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday urged Nigerian judges to uphold the highest standards of integrity, warning that no reform in the justice sector can succeed if public confidence in the judiciary continues to erode.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, President Tinubu said the credibility of the judiciary remains central to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy. He stressed that the public perception of the Bench has become a matter of urgent national concern.
“The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Building a Confident Judiciary,’ could not be more fitting,” the President told participants. “Confidence is the lifeblood of justice. A judgment may be grounded in law and delivered with clarity, but unless the public perceives it to be fair, impartial, and untainted, its moral authority is diminished.”
Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians have grown frustrated with delays in court cases, concerns about judicial integrity, and obstacles to accessing justice. These perceptions, he said, must not be ignored.
“They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore,” he said. “Justice does not exist for the Bench or the Bar; it exists for the people. Their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability.”
The President noted that judges remain custodians of the law and urged them to carry out their duties with the spirit rather than the letter of the law always in view. He emphasised that judicial independence, welfare and training are “imperatives” rather than privileges.
“My administration believes that a judiciary strong in capacity, efficient in processes, and uncompromising in integrity is indispensable to the survival of our democracy,” Tinubu declared. “Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years. They must become beacons of efficiency.”
The President pledged continued support for the NJI and promised accelerated efforts to modernise court systems across the country. He highlighted digitisation, integrated case management systems and updated infrastructure as priorities for his administration.
“Technology is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” he said. “A digital, transparent judiciary will not only improve efficiency but deepen accountability and public trust. We should not leave any of our courts behind in this transformation.”
Tinubu also commended the judiciary for playing a stabilising role during crucial moments in Nigeria’s history. He said its interventions have restrained tyranny, preserved constitutional order, and amplified justice “above the noise of division or despair.”
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, praised the President’s commitment to judicial reform while calling on judges to embody incorruptibility and resilience in dispensing justice.
“The temple of justice trembles where justice is denied,” the CJN said. “This conference provides an invaluable platform for introspection, collaboration, and strengthening institutional ethics.”
The biennial event was attended by former and serving Chief Justices, Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Heads of Courts, and judges from across the country.
