President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on the Nigerian judiciary to uphold integrity, impartiality, and accountability in the discharge of its duties, warning that the breakdown of any society begins when its justice system becomes compromised.
Declaring open a joint workshop of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) for Justices and Judges, President Tinubu said the judiciary remains the moral foundation of the Nigerian state and must be insulated from corruption and political influence.
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Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President stressed that his administration is fully committed to improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers to strengthen their independence and performance.
Addressing public concerns over delayed judgments in high-profile corruption cases, President Tinubu said his government has not interfered in the work of anti-corruption agencies or the judiciary.
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The President noted that under his administration, the EFCC has secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets worth more than ₦500 billion, which are being channelled into social investment programmes such as the Students Loan and Consumer Credit Schemes.
Tinubu also urged judicial officers to continuously build their capacity in response to the evolving nature of financial crimes, particularly in the digital space.
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He emphasized that corruption affects everyone, regardless of status, adding that judges are not insulated from its consequences.
In her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who also chairs the Board of Governors of the NJI, reiterated that judicial officers must apply the law with integrity and ensure justice is delivered without delay.
She noted that the trust reposed in the judiciary by Nigerians is its greatest strength, urging judges to maintain public confidence through impartial adjudication.
Also speaking, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Monguno, said the legislature remains committed to supporting the judiciary and law enforcement agencies in the fight against corruption.
The Administrator of the NJI, B.A. Adejumo, said the workshop has become a critical platform for strengthening judicial competence in anti-corruption matters.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration among the EFCC, NJI, and judiciary to ensure that judges remain abreast of modern legal and technological developments.
On his part, the EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede (SAN), lauded the judiciary’s cooperation with the Commission, noting that the Supreme Court’s recent ruling upholding the EFCC’s mandate has further reinforced Nigeria’s anti-corruption institutions.
“The record of over 4,000 convictions and humongous asset recoveries could not have been achieved without the dedication and effectiveness of the judiciary,”
Olukoyede stated.
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The workshop, themed “Enhancing Justice in the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes,” brought together senior justices, judges, legal scholars, and anti-corruption experts to discuss ways of improving the speed and transparency of justice delivery in Nigeria.
President Tinubu reaffirmed that his administration’s support for the judiciary will remain unwavering, stressing that a just and incorruptible judiciary is vital to achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda and restoring citizens’ confidence in government institutions.