President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday told judges that corruption within the judiciary poses a direct threat to Nigeria’s stability, warning that “corruption in the Judiciary destroys it at its core.”
He spoke at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts, held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
According to Tinubu, public trust in the courts remains essential to the health of the country’s democracy. He noted that while the judiciary has often been a stabilising force, citizens have raised concerns about delays, integrity and access to justice.
“Confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” he said, adding that judgments lose credibility “unless the public perceives it to be fair, impartial, and untainted.”
The President restated his administration’s support for judicial reforms, including modern infrastructure, digital court processes, and improved working conditions.
He said, “Support must be tangible, not ceremonial,” and added that courts “must no longer be places where cases languish for years.”
Tinubu also stressed that integrity remains the foundation of the judiciary’s authority, warning that “justice must never be for sale, and the Bench must never become a sanctuary for compromise,” urging stricter discipline within the judicial system. According to him, “no amount of reform can succeed if integrity is compromised.”
“We will continue to support the National Judicial Institute (NJI) as the leading hub for judicial education, comparative study, and professional development. Continuous learning and intellectual renewal must remain the hallmark of our Bench. The law evolves daily, and so too must those who interpret and apply it. We must ensure that our Judges are not only equipped to interpret law in contemporary times but also empowered to shape it in accordance with constitutional values.
“However, 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,” the president said.
Declaring the conference open, Tinubu called on judges to be “bold and practical” in addressing case backlogs, discipline, and access to justice. He described the judiciary as “guardians of Nigeria’s moral conscience,” saying each fair judgment “strengthens the Republic.”
