President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday warned that Nigeria’s democracy faces a grave threat if corruption and indiscipline are allowed to fester within the judiciary.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja, Tinubu said the integrity of judges remains the nation’s last line of defence against tyranny, instability and loss of public trust.
“History has shown that whenever Nigeria faced moments of uncertainty, the judiciary stood firm as the stabilising force of our national life,” the president said.
“It is through the courage of judges and their pronouncements that tyranny has been restrained and constitutional order preserved.”
But Tinubu noted that confidence in the justice system has suffered major setbacks due to delays, allegations of corruption and limited access to justice.
“Let us be clear: no amount of reform can succeed if integrity is compromised,” he declared. “Justice must never be for sale. The bench must never be a sanctuary for compromise.”
He warned that corruption in the judiciary carries far more devastating consequences than corruption elsewhere in government.
“Corruption anywhere is damaging, but corruption in the judiciary destroys government at its core. When justice is compromised, government loses its integrity and democracy loses its foundation,” Tinubu added.
The president expressed readiness to work with judicial institutions to strengthen discipline and accountability, saying his administration would support every effort aimed at cleansing the system.
“With utmost seriousness, my administration stands ready to support every effort by the judiciary to preserve its dignity and eliminate misconduct,” he assured.
Tinubu also stressed that enforcing discipline must not be left to the National Judicial Council (NJC) alone.
“This is not a task for the NJC alone. It is a collective duty resting on every judicial officer,” he said. “Only a judiciary that cleanses itself can command the moral authority to cleanse society.”
The 2025 Judges’ Conference brought together senior jurists from across the country to deliberate on reforms, judicial independence and the future of justice delivery in Nigeria.
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