PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday declared open the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts, urging judicial officers across the country to recommit themselves to transparency, courage, discipline and public trust as pillars of Nigeria’s democracy.
News Point Nigeria reports that the event, held at the Andrews Otutu Obaseki Auditorium of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, drew senior jurists, heads of courts, judicial administrators, and policymakers from across the federation.
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Delivering a keynote address, President Tinubu described the annual gathering as “an extraordinary convocation of the men and women upon whose wisdom, courage, and integrity rest the stability of our democracy.”
Tinubu praised the Judiciary for its historic role as the stabilising force in times of constitutional tension, noting that judicial pronouncements had often restrained tyranny and preserved democratic order.
“Whenever Nigeria has faced moments of uncertainty, history has recorded that the Judiciary stood firm,” the President said. “It is through the courage of judges that constitutional order has been preserved and justice amplified above the noise of division.”
He added that the government and people of Nigeria remain deeply grateful for the Judiciary’s “enduring role in protecting the Republic.”
Speaking on the conference theme, “Building a Confident Judiciary,” Tinubu said confidence is the “lifeblood of justice.”
While acknowledging concerns around delays, integrity questions, and accessibility gaps in the justice system, he said these perceptions, whether fully accurate or not must be taken seriously.
“Justice does not exist for the Bench or the Bar; it exists for the people,” he said. “Their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability.”
President Tinubu pledged that his administration would continue to provide resources to strengthen court systems, improve working conditions, and modernise infrastructure.
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“Support must be tangible, not ceremonial,” he said, adding that courtrooms must become “beacons of efficiency” where cases are resolved promptly.
He listed digitalisation, integrated case management systems, and secure facilities as priorities, stressing that “technology is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.”
The President issued one of his strongest warnings yet on corruption in the justice system.
“Justice must never be for sale,” Tinubu declared. “Corruption in any arm of government weakens the nation, but corruption in the Judiciary destroys it at its core.”
He said his government would support strict disciplinary measures to protect the sanctity of the Bench, adding that only a Judiciary that cleanses itself can command public trust.
Tinubu said the National Judicial Institute would continue to receive federal backing to strengthen professional development and comparative legal studies.
“The law evolves daily, and so must those who interpret and apply it,” he said.
Calling on the Judiciary to confront longstanding structural challenges, Tinubu urged delegates to focus on practical solutions, including: reducing case backlogs, strengthening disciplinary mechanisms, expanding access to justice for the poor and repositioning the courts as the “last hope of the common man.”
He reminded judicial officers that they are “guardians of Nigeria’s moral conscience and architects of her democratic destiny.”
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Concluding his remarks, Tinubu said the nation’s democratic story “is still being written,” and urged judges to ensure that history records their tenure as a period of integrity, courage, and fidelity to justice.
He then formally declared the 2025 conference open.