Abuja: President Bola Tinubu on Monday cautioned the Bench not to become a sanctuary for compromise. Tinubu made the call at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja. The president warned that corruption within the Judiciary was a direct assault on democracy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the president emphasized that “Justice must never be for sale, and the Bench must never become a sanctuary for compromise.” He highlighted that corruption in any arm of government weakens the nation, but corruption in the Judiciary destroys it at its core. Only a Judiciary that cleanses itself can command the moral authority to cleanse society.
Tinubu noted that judicial officers remained the true custodians of justice and assured continued investment in welfare, training, and the National Judicial Institute. He urged the Bench to pursue bold reforms to restore public confidence and deepen the rule of law. Furthermore, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial capacity through improved welfare, modern infrastructure, and enhanced working conditions across the courts.
The president stressed the need to adopt actionable reforms that strengthen discipline, reduce congestion in courts, and expand access to justice for ordinary citizens. He remarked on the Judiciary’s historical role as a stabilizing force, stating, “Whenever Nigeria has faced moments of uncertainty, history has recorded that the Judiciary stood firm as the stabilising force of our national life.”
Tinubu addressed the growing backlog of court cases nationwide, labeling it unacceptable and emphasizing that a just society could not thrive on slow or compromised justice delivery. He asserted, “The backlog of cases in our courts must be addressed with urgency. Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years.”
The president acknowledged public frustration over delayed judgments, questionable conduct, and difficulty accessing justice. He noted that these perceptions required honest reflection and decisive action and emphasized the role of technology in future reforms, highlighting the need for digitisation, integrated case management, and transparent processes.
Tinubu concluded by stressing that judicial officers remained the true custodians of justice and pledged continued support for their welfare and training through the National Judicial Institute. He expressed optimism that the conference, themed ‘Building a Confident Judiciary,’ would reinforce the Judiciary as the guardian of the nation’s democratic ideals.