President Bola Tinubu on Monday issued a stern warning to Nigeria’s judicial officers, declaring that the rising backlog of court cases nationwide is unacceptable and poses a threat to the nation’s quest for a just and democratic society.

 

Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, the President said Nigeria cannot build a fair society when justice is slow, inaccessible, or tainted by compromise.

 

Tinubu stressed that the Judiciary remains the “stabilising force” of Nigeria’s democracy, but cautioned that its legitimacy weakens when justice is delayed or influenced by corruption.

 

“Confidence is the lifeblood of justice,” he said. “The backlog of cases in our courts must be addressed with urgency. 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 many Nigerians have grown frustrated by delayed judgments, questionable conduct by some judicial actors, and difficulties in accessing justice. These concerns, he said, demand honest reflection and decisive, structural reforms.

 

“These perceptions, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored. They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore,” Tinubu said.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial capacity through improved welfare, training, and modern infrastructure.

 

He emphasised that technology must now be central to judicial operations, calling for digitisation, integrated case management systems, and transparent processes across courts.

 

“Support must be tangible, not ceremonial,” he said. “A digital, transparent judiciary will deepen accountability and public trust. We should not leave any of our courts behind in this transformation.”

While promising support for judicial officers, Tinubu warned that no reform would be effective unless judges uphold the highest standards of integrity. He insisted that corruption within the Judiciary is a direct attack on democracy itself.

 

“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.”

 

The President also said judicial discipline must be firm, transparent, and consistent, noting that protecting the courts’ integrity is a collective duty shared by all judicial officers—not only the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Tinubu challenged the judges to adopt bold reforms that reduce congestion in the courts, strengthen discipline, and make justice more affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians.

 

He reminded them that their decisions shape the moral conscience of the nation and determine whether Nigeria remains a country where citizens, regardless of status, can seek justice without fear or favour.

 

Declaring the conference open, the President said the story of Nigeria’s democracy is still being written through the courage, fairness, and integrity reflected in judicial decisions.

 

“Each fair judgment strengthens the Republic; each courageous ruling preserves its soul,” he concluded, expressing confidence that the conference resolutions would reinforce the Judiciary as the guardian of Nigeria’s democratic ideals.