President Bola Tinubu has warned that no judicial reform will succeed unless the courts confront corruption head-on, insisting that integrity is the backbone of Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking on Monday at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, Tinubu praised the judiciary as the nation’s most dependable stabilising force in difficult times.
“Whenever Nigeria has faced moments of uncertainty, the Judiciary stood firm as the stabilising force of our national life,” he said, noting that judges’ courage had repeatedly restrained tyranny and protected constitutional order.
But he cautioned that public trust in the justice system has eroded, fuelled by slow trials, allegations of corruption and limited access to justice. Tinubu urged judicial officers to confront these challenges with sincerity and self-reflection.
He stressed that the bench must always embody honour and accountability.
“No amount of reform can succeed if integrity is compromised. Justice must never be for sale; the bench must never be called a sanctuary for compromise,” he warned.
The president said corruption in any arm of government is harmful, but judicial corruption “destroys it to the core”.
“When justice is compromised, government loses its integrity and democracy loses its foundation,” he added.
Tinubu assured judges that his administration is ready to work with them to defend judicial dignity and eliminate misconduct.
He also said disciplinary action cannot be left to the National Judicial Council (NJC) alone.
“This is a collective duty that rests on every judicial officer,” he said, adding that only a judiciary that cleanses itself can command the moral authority to cleanse society.
