Make justice affordable, accessible to the poor – Tinubu tells judges

By John Chuks Azu President Bola Tinubu has urged members of the judiciary to make justice more affordable and accessible to the poor, weak and voiceless. Tinubu spoke on Monday at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference organised by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, with the theme: “Building a Confident Judiciary.” The […]

By John Chuks Azu

President Bola Tinubu has urged members of the judiciary to make justice more affordable and accessible to the poor, weak and voiceless.
Tinubu spoke on Monday at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference organised by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, with the theme: “Building a Confident Judiciary.”
The President also tasked the over 1,000 participants at the biennial conference to seek ways to build a judiciary that truly remains the last hope of the common man.
Tinubu stated that the people’s faith in the judicial process is the foundation of national stability, as ultimate justice exists for them.
He, therefore, called for reforms to restore faith in the judiciary, maintaining that unfavourable public perceptions in the judiciary, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored.
The President noted that the theme could not be more fitting because, according to him, confidence is the lifeblood of justice.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
The President further noted that the judiciary had always stood firm as a stabilising force whenever Nigeria faced moments of uncertainty, “through the courage of judges and their judicial pronouncements tyranny has been restrained, constitutional order preserved, and the voice of justice amplified above the noise of division or despair.”
To make the judiciary “beacons of efficiency”, Tinubu pledged to provide the institutional and material support to the judiciary with improved working conditions, modern infrastructure, and well-equipped courtrooms “where justice is dispensed promptly and transparently.”
He further said: “The modernisation of judicial infrastructure remains a central priority. Technology is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity. The digitisation of court processes, the adoption of integrated case management systems, and the provision of secure and reliable judicial facilities will receive sustained attention from this administration. A digital, transparent judiciary will not only improve efficiency but will also deepen accountability and public trust. We should not leave any of our courts behind in this transformation. “Yet, bricks and mortar or even digital screens do not make justice. The true strength of the judiciary lies in the men and women who interpret the law and give life to its spirit. Our Judges are the living custodians of justice; the calibre of their work defines the moral strength of the Republic. That is why judicial welfare, training, and independence are not privileges; they are imperatives.
“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.
“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.
“My Lords, as you deliberate in the coming days, I want you to remember that the Judiciary is not an end in itself; it is an instrument of justice for the people. Its moral power flows not merely from the Constitution, but from the trust and confidence that ordinary citizens repose in it. A courageous, transparent, and principled judiciary is the greatest guarantee of freedom; a slow, compromised, or disconnected Judiciary is its greatest threat.
“This is why I urge you, in your discussions, to be bold and practical. Go beyond diagnosing old challenges and commit to actionable solutions. Ask the difficult questions on: How do we reduce the backlog of cases? How do we strengthen discipline within the ranks? How do we make justice more affordable and accessible to the poor, the weak, and the voiceless? And above all, how do we build a Judiciary that truly remains the last hope of the common man?
“Distinguished judges and delegates, I see before me not just interpreters of the law, but guardians of Nigeria’s moral conscience and architects of her democratic destiny. You hold in your hands the power to shape the moral compass of our Republic; to ensure that no citizen is too weak to be heard and no authority too powerful to be restrained by law.
“The task is weighty, but it is noble, and I assure you that this administration will continue to stand beside you, listen to you, and support you in fulfilling this sacred responsibility.
“Let me conclude by reminding us all that the story of our democracy is still being written. Each fair judgment strengthens the Republic; each courageous ruling preserves its soul. Let us, therefore, resolve that the chapters written in our time will be remembered for integrity, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law.”
Judiciary still financially dependent on Executive – CJN
In her speech, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, noted that the judiciary faces the challenge of financial dependence on the executive.
“Without genuine financial autonomy, judicial independence remains fragile. True independence is the bedrock of justice; where it is absent, the temple of justice trembles. Independence is not a privilege; it is a moral and constitutional obligation that guarantees fairness and equality before the law,” she said.
The CJN also charged judges on enhancing public perception of the judiciary through more efficiency in justice delivery, maintaining high ethical standards, removing corruption, and delivering substantial justice.
“As judicial officers, our duty is solemn and sacred. We must rise above technicalities that obstruct substantive justice, ensuring that our decisions reflect fairness and equity. Let our courts be sanctuaries of truth, not labyrinths of technicality. Let our judgements speak not just to the letter of the law, but to its spirit; anchored in conscience, compassion, and courage,” she said.
“The Nigerian judiciary must be remembered not for rigid adherence to formality, but for its unwavering dedication to the substance of justice and the protection of the rule of law.”
The CJN also warns that rushing to the media to castigate judges on their decisions, if unchecked, poses a grave danger to the administration of justice.
Earlier, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, noted that the judiciary can earn public confidence daily through “courage in judgement, discipline in conduct, clarity in reasoning, and integrity in all that we do.”
He added, “A judiciary worthy of public trust must remain independent and fearless, ethically grounded and procedurally efficient, technologically prepared for emerging legal complexities, transparent in its operations, and institutionally coherent in its vision.
“Where the judiciary inspires confidence, democracy grows stronger; where it falters, the very foundations of the rule of law are threatened.”
He noted that the National Judicial Institute, which was established under Section 1 of the National Judicial Institute Act, Cap. N55 LFN. 2004 (as amended), continues to fulfil its mandate as the foremost institution for training and continuing education of judicial officers across Nigeria.
“Under the able leadership of the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria as Chairman of the Board of Governors, the Institute has expanded its curriculum to embrace emerging areas of law, from cybercrime and digital evidence to electoral adjudication, alternative dispute resolution, anti-corruption jurisprudence, and complex commercial litigation. “It continues to deepen ethical consciousness, enhance professionalism, integrate technology-driven learning, and strengthen the adjudicatory competence required of Judges in today’s rapidly evolving legal environment. A confident judiciary is, indeed, a continuously learning judiciary.”