President Bola Tinubu has told Nigerian judges that justice must never be for sale in the country.
The President gave this charge on Monday at the All Nigeria Judges’ Conference in Abuja, warning that the bench must never be seen as a sanctuary for compromise.
Tinubu said citizens have not only expressed frustration at delays in the determination of cases, but also expressed anxiety over the lack of access to justice.
“Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years; they must become beacons of efficiency, where disputes are resolved swiftly, and where litigants depart with renewed confidence in the rule of law,” he said.
The President, while describing the theme of the conference, ‘Building a Confident Judiciary’, as apt and fitting, maintained that confidence is the lifeblood of justice.
According to the President, his administration, with utmost seriousness, stands ready to support every effort by the judiciary to preserve its dignity and eliminate misconduct.
He noted that the assignment is not a task for the National Judicial Council alone as it is a collective duty that rests on every judicial officer.
“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.
“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.
“We must acknowledge, with candour, that public perception of the judicial process has not always been favourable.
“Citizens have expressed frustration at delays, concerns about integrity, and anxiety over access to justice. These perceptions, whether wholly justified or not, cannot be ignored.
“They call upon us to reflect, to reform, and to restore. Ultimately, justice does not exist for the Bench or the Bar; it exists for the people. Their faith in the judicial process is the foundation of our national stability.
“In this regard, I wish to reaffirm, with clarity and conviction, the unwavering commitment of my administration to supporting the Judiciary in fulfilling its constitutional mandate,” Tinubu said.
