President Bola Tinubu has tasked judges in the country to always live above board and uphold judicial independence and integrity because no nation survives a corrupt Judiciary.
President Tinubu, who noted public concern about judicial integrity, stated that it was impossible to build a just society without a fearless and functional Judiciary.
He said, “Let us be clear: no amount of reform can succeed if integrity is compromised. Justice must never be for sale, and the Bench must never become a sanctuary for compromise.
“Corruption in any arm of government weakens the nation, but corruption in the Judiciary destroys it at its core.
“When justice is compromised, governance loses its integrity, and democracy loses its foundation,” he said.
The President added, “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 confidence of the people is, therefore, not an abstract aspiration; it is the living measure of the Judiciary’s legitimacy and the true currency of justice.
“We must acknowledge, with candour, that public perception of the judicial process has not always been favourable.
“Citizens have expressed frustration at delays, concerns about integrity, and anxiety over access to justice. These perceptions, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored.
“They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore. 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 said.
President Tinubu, who spoke in Abuja on Monday at the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts, said his administration would support all efforts by the Judiciary to preserve its integrity.
The weeklong event, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), headed by Justice Babatunde Adejumo, has as its theme: “Building a Confident Judiciary.”
President Tinubu said, “With utmost seriousness, my administration stands ready to support every effort by the Judiciary to preserve its dignity and eliminate misconduct.
“This is not a task for the National Judicial Council alone; it is a collective duty that rests on every judicial officer.
“Discipline within the Judiciary must be firm, transparent, and consistent. Only a Judiciary that cleanses itself can command the moral authority to cleanse society,” he said.
President Tinubu, who noted the Judiciary’s contribution to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy, promised his administration’s support in addressing the challenges hampering effective delivery of its constitutional mandate.
