Posted by Chinenye on Tue 16th Jun, 2026 - tori.ng
President Bola Tinubu has delivered a powerful message to Nigeria's judiciary, declaring that the future of democracy depends on fair and speedy justice.
(President Bola Tinubu. Photo by Daily Post)
President Bola Tinubu on Monday charged the nation's appellate judges to ensure that justice is dispensed swiftly, fairly, and without regard to a litigant's status, ethnicity, or financial standing, warning that a compromised judiciary represents a direct threat to democratic stability.
The President gave the charge at the commissioning of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division building complex at Dakibiyu, where he was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He described the completion of the complex, which replaces a cramped, temporary facility the Abuja Division had occupied for years, as a fulfilment of his Renewed Hope Agenda's pledge to restore dignity to Nigeria's justice institutions.
A statement issued Monday by the Vice President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Tinubu telling the justices that Nigeria expects swift, fair justice that remains blind to status, tribe, or wealth, and that the common man should feel the court is truly his last resort.
He then formally commissioned the complex for the service of justice and the benefit of the Federal Republic.
Tinubu said it was unacceptable that such a consequential appellate bench had functioned from inadequate premises, recalling that upon inspecting the old facility, he simply directed that the problem be fixed, a directive he said has now been carried out.
The new complex features two large courtrooms and eight smaller ones, a marked expansion from the two courtrooms previously available to the division.
The President said this expanded infrastructure would speed up case resolution, ease congestion in correctional centres, and bolster public confidence in the rule of law, describing it as a tangible way of honouring the judiciary and strengthening democracy.
He situated the project within his broader philosophy of governance, insisting that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not mere rhetoric but concrete action being replicated across health, education, roads, power, and now the judiciary, as the administration rebuilds Nigeria's institutions piece by piece.
Acknowledging the demanding workload of Abuja Division judges, who handle election petitions and constitutional matters of national significance, Tinubu said the improved working environment was not a favour but something the judiciary was rightfully owed, adding that more support would follow.
The President singled out the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for commendation, crediting him with delivering the project with speed and discipline.
He recalled that Wike was assigned the task in May 2024, had contractors on site by July, and completed the project within the promised 16-month timeline, without excuses or cost variations. Tinubu said the results spoke for themselves and expressed pride in Wike's dedication.
The President also credited Wike with driving a broader range of judicial infrastructure projects across the FCT under presidential directive, extending beyond the Court of Appeal to the National Industrial Court, the Federal High Court, and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He commended the minister's efforts to domesticate the judicial reform agenda by building additional courts, constructing suitable residences for judicial officers, digitising court processes, and supporting legal education in the territory.
Earlier at the event, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, said the new complex's impact on justice administration could not be overstated.
She noted that the Abuja Division had for years made do with only two courtrooms, a shortage that had slowed the pace of justice delivery, and expressed confidence that the new facility would significantly improve case resolution timelines, stressing that judicial infrastructure must reflect the system it serves.
She thanked the President, Vice President, and FCT Minister for treating judicial infrastructure as central to democratic stability.
In his welcome address, Wike said he had personally drawn the President's attention to the deplorable state of the old court complex, and that Tinubu had not only approved funding for the new Court of Appeal building and judges' residences but had extended similar intervention to other federal courts within the FCT.
He argued that judicial independence is difficult to achieve without a befitting work environment and adequate housing for judges.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the new complex as a fiftieth-anniversary gift to the Nigerian judiciary, coinciding with the third year of the Tinubu administration.
He maintained that no recent Nigerian administration had matched the level of support Tinubu's government has extended to the judiciary since May 2023.
The Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Bunkure, described the project as evidence of the Federal Government's commitment to ensuring the justice sector serves Nigerians efficiently and effectively.