The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has advocated for enhanced commitment to the principle of rule of law among key players in the three arms of government in view of its stabilising capability in a democracy.

The CJN said, “The law is not an abstract ideal confined to courtrooms or classrooms; it is the anchor of political stability, the guarantor of economic confidence, and the framework within which freedoms are exercised and responsibilities enforced. 

“At a moment when our Nation confronts complex socio-economic pressures and shifting political expectations, the primacy of the rule of law becomes even more evident,” she said.

Justice Kekere-Ekun spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at 2025 Fellows Lecture and Conferment of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Honourary Fellowship, with the theme: “Law, Politics and Economic Development: Nigeria at a Crossroads.” 

The CJN said the task of uphold the rule of law was more with mbera of the Judiciary who are constitutionally saddled with such a responsibility.

She said, “For the Judiciary, this reality carries a solemn charge. Our constitutional mandate demands fidelity to the law, impartiality in its application, and courage in its defence. 

“Public trust, which is the lifeblood of justice, must be earned every day through transparent processes, reasoned decisions, and an unwavering commitment to fairness. 

“The courts do not operate in isolation from society; rather, they operate at its moral and institutional core. It is therefore essential that our deliberations today contribute to strengthening that core,” she said.

The CJN, who commended the efforts of those behind the event, equally hailed the four recipients of the 2025 NIALS Honourary Fellowship.

She added that the annual NIALS’ fellow lecture provides a forum “where scholarship meets experience, where theory is tested against practice, and where enduring questions about our national progress are confronted with intellectual candour.”

NIALS’ Director General, Prof. Abdulqadir Abikan said the lecture was intended not just as an academic theme, but an attempt to examine the central dilemma of the country’s national project. 

Prof. Abikan said, “It demands that we confront the intricate, often contentious, nexus where legal frameworks intersect with political will and economic aspirations. 

“At this crossroads, the choices we make—or fail to make—will define our trajectory for generations.

“We have assembled today to listen, learn, and engage with a rigorous examination of this critical triad,” he said.

The lecture, George Etomi (SAN), said his study showed that the country’s governance crisis was rooted, not in the absence of policy or law, but in widespread, institutionalised non-compliance with its own legal instruments. 

Etomi added, “This non-compliance manifests as weak enforcement of contracts, arbitrary regulatory application and compromised accountability, leading to reduced government revenue, deterred Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), and eroded public trust in the judiciary.”

He said to achieve a future of diversified and inclusive economic progress, depends entirely on enforcing the laws that already exist, thereby restoring legal predictability and political legitimacy. 

Among the four the four who was handed the fellowship are two former Attorneys General of the Federation (AGFs), Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Mohammed Adoke (SAN).

The other two are former Director General of NIALS, Prof. Muhammed Ladan and Yusuf Alli (SAN).

Source; The Nation News