President Bola Tinubu on Monday told the nation’s judicial officers that the growing backlog of court cases across the country is unacceptable, insisting that Nigeria cannot build a just society with slow or compromised justice delivery.
He also told the judges that justice must never be for sale, adding that the Bench must never become a sanctuary for compromise.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, the President challenged the Bench to adopt bold, practical reforms that will restore public confidence in the judicial system and strengthen the rule of law.
Tinubu said the Judiciary remains the stabilising force of the nation’s democracy, but warned that its legitimacy is threatened when justice is delayed or tainted by corruption.
He emphasised that “confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” and that the moral authority of the courts largely depends on the public’s perception of fairness and integrity.
“The backlog of cases in our courts must be addressed with urgency,” he said. “Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years. Justice exists for the people, and their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability.”
The President noted that Nigerians have long expressed frustrations with delayed judgments, questionable conduct, and challenges in accessing justice, saying these concerns demand honest reflection and decisive action.
“These perceptions, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored. They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore,” he added.
Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial capacity, improving working conditions, and modernising infrastructure across courts nationwide.
He said technology must now become central to judicial operations, with digitisation, integrated case management, and transparent processes forming the backbone of future reforms.
“Support must be tangible, not ceremonial. We will prioritise modern infrastructure, digital processes, and efficient case management.
A digital, transparent judiciary will deepen accountability and public trust. We should not leave any of our courts behind in this transformation,” the President said.
Beyond infrastructure, Tinubu emphasised that judicial officers themselves remain the true custodians of justice.
He pledged continued support for welfare, training, and the work of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), noting that continuous learning and intellectual renewal must define the Bench.
However, the President warned that no reform will succeed unless integrity is upheld at all times, stressing that corruption within the Judiciary is a direct assault on democracy.
“Justice must never be for sale, and the Bench must never become a sanctuary for compromise,” he declared.
“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.”
He said judicial discipline must be firm, transparent, and consistent, adding that safeguarding the integrity of the courts is a collective obligation resting on every judicial officer, not just the National Judicial Council.
Tinubu urged the judges to adopt actionable reforms that strengthen discipline, reduce congestion in courts, and make justice more affordable and accessible to ordinary citizens.
He reminded them that their work shapes the moral conscience of the Republic and determines whether Nigeria remains a country where no citizen is too weak to be heard and no authority too powerful to be restrained by law.
Declaring the conference open, the President said the story of Nigeria’s democracy is still being written through the courage, fairness, and integrity of judicial decisions.
He expressed confidence that the resolutions from the conference would be transformative and would reinforce the Judiciary as the guardian of the nation’s democratic ideals.
“Each fair judgment strengthens the Republic; each courageous ruling preserves its soul,” he told the gathering.
