Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun said yesterday that financial autonomy for the Judiciary would guarantee its independence and bolster its capacity to deliver on its constitutional mandate.

She argued that ‘’without genuine financial autonomy, judicial independence would remain ‘’fragile.’’ Justice Kekere-Ekun spoke at the opening of the ‘2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts,’ at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

The weeklong event, tagged ‘Building a Confident Judiciary ‘, was organised by the Justice Babatunde Adejumo–led NJI

The CJN, who also highlighted graft, outdated infrastructure and internal complacency as some of the issues affecting the Third Arm of government, pointed out that ‘’independence of the judiciary is not a privilege but a moral and constitutional obligation.’’

She said: “We must acknowledge a difficult but undeniable truth: the Judiciary continues to operate within a democratic framework where financial dependence on the Executive persists.

“True independence is the bedrock of justice; where it is absent, the temple of justice trembles.

“Independence is not a privilege; it is a moral and constitutional obligation that guarantees fairness and equality before the law.”

Harping also on the role of the Judiciary in a democracy, Justice Kekere-Ekun said judges should not only ‘’rise above technicalities that obstruct substantive justice,’’ they must ‘’ensure that their decisions reflect fairness and equity.’’

“Let our courts be sanctuaries of truth, not labyrinths of technicalities. Let our judgments speak not just to the letter of the law, but to its spirit; anchored in conscience, compassion, and courage,’’ she said.

The CJN assured that the Judiciary under her watch was working on efforts to ease out bad eggs among its ranks and boost public confidence in the judicial system.

One of the efforts, according to her, is the ongoing measure to strengthen and reorganise the National Judicial Council (NJC) to make it bite harder.

Her words: “On the persistent issue of corruption, we can no longer afford to regard our institution as beyond scrutiny.

“We must admit, with candour, that there are some within our ranks who have undermined the integrity of the Bench.

“This must change. The NJC is being strengthened and repositioned to execute its constitutional mandate with greater vigour, efficiency, and accountability.

“We must be the example we seek to inspire. The robe we wear must never be a cloak for impropriety but a symbol of incorruptible honour.

“With collective will, renewed commitment, and divine guidance, we shall succeed in restoring the dignity of our noble profession.”

Justice Kekere-Ekun said for the Judiciary to address the widespread notion that its processes are slow, inefficient and sometimes, vulnerable to external influences, it must take practical steps to improve its infrastructure, human capital, among others.

She said: “We must confront this perception head-on, not with rhetoric, but with deliberate and demonstrable action that restores confidence in our courts.

“A Judiciary that commands respect must be unwavering in upholding independence, firm in strengthening ethical standards, and resolute in eliminating inefficiencies in court administration.

“We must address the persistent issues of outdated infrastructure, intellectual complacency, and corruption challenges that have hindered our efficiency and undermined public trust.

“To build a confident Judiciary, we must rise above these obstacles and ensure that justice is dispensed with integrity, impartiality, and transparency.”

Justice Kekere-Ekun acknowledged the court’s role in stabilising the nation’s democracy, but noted that more needs to be done to deepen democratic culture in the land.

“It is no exaggeration to state that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy has often hinged on the steadfastness of the Judiciary.

“Our pronouncements, at critical junctures in our history, have preserved constitutional order and upheld the democratic will of the people.”

Source; The Nation News