Tinubu to Judges: Integrity is the backbone of justice
Chris Uba
President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged Nigerian judges to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary, warning that no reform can succeed if public trust is undermined.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, the President said the honour of the Bench rests on faithful and unambiguous interpretation of the constitution.
Tinubu stressed that public perception of the judiciary must remain a central concern, especially in protecting the nation’s democracy. He said the conference theme, “Building a Confident Judiciary,” was timely, reflecting current public concerns.
“Confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” he said. “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.”
The President acknowledged citizens’ frustrations over delayed justice, integrity challenges, and limited access, noting that such perceptions “cannot be ignored.”
“For ultimately, 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,” he added.
Tinubu urged judges to embody the spirit of the law, describing them as “the living custodians of justice.” He said judicial welfare, training, and independence are not privileges but necessities for a strong republic.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting a judiciary that is efficient, well-resourced, and uncompromising in integrity. Courts, he said, must no longer be places “where cases languish for years,” but centres of swift and credible justice.
The President praised the judiciary’s historical role as a stabilising force in moments of national uncertainty. “Through the courage of judges, tyranny has been restrained and constitutional order preserved,” he said.
On modernising the justice sector, Tinubu promised sustained investment in technology, digitisation of court processes, and upgraded infrastructure to boost transparency and public trust. “Technology is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity,” he emphasised.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, thanked the President for his support and urged judicial officers to embody “incorruptible honour.” She said the conference provides a platform to strengthen ethics, collaboration, and fairness in the administration of justice.
The biennial conference is attended by former and serving Chief Justices, Presidents of the Court of Appeal, Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, Heads of Courts, and judges from across the country.
