NIGERIA: Tinubu Urges Judiciary to Remain Incorruptible, Pledges Improved Welfare for Judges

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Nigerian judiciary to remain steadfast, impartial, and incorruptible in the discharge of its duties, warning that the decay of any nation begins when its justice system is compromised.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Judicial Institute (NJI) Workshop for Justices and Judges in Abuja, the President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said his administration will continue to strengthen the independence of the judiciary through improved welfare and working conditions.

Tinubu stated: “We draw our moral distinction as a people from the judiciary, and we owe it the reverence and autonomy to remain the last sanctuary of our collective conscience.”

Highlighting progress in the fight against corruption, President Tinubu revealed that the EFCC secured over 7,000 convictions and recovered assets exceeding ₦500 billion within the first two years of his administration.

He said the recovered funds are being redirected into critical social investment initiatives such as the Students Loan Scheme and the Consumer Credit Programme, which are designed to empower Nigerians and stimulate economic growth.

The President reaffirmed his government’s non-interference stance, insisting that no political actor has been shielded from prosecution because of party affiliation.

He noted: “There is no person or group who can accuse this administration of shielding political actors on account of their affiliation to this government or the political party. We have allowed both the judiciary and the anti-graft agencies to exercise their constitutional and statutory powers.”

President Tinubu further expressed concern over the delays in adjudicating high-profile corruption cases, noting that such bottlenecks fuel public frustration.

“Conversations around the fight against corruption evoke anger over delayed adjudication of high-profile matters while cases involving cybercrime masterminds are determined with dispatch,” he said.

He urged judicial officers to ensure that justice is neither delayed nor denied, adding that the moral foundation of the nation depends on the credibility of its courts.

President Tinubu concluded by reaffirming his government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and justice.

He stressed that Nigeria’s collective future depends on a judiciary that commands trust and integrity.

“The moral backbone of this nation rests on our courts. Once the judiciary fails, everything else crumbles,” he warned.