Tinubu asks judges to ensure quick justice

President Bola Tinubu on Monday asked judges to make sure justice is quick and fair.

He warned that delays in the justice system can hurt democracy.

The president spoke through Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja. This was during the opening of the Abuja Division Building Complex of the Court of Appeal in Dakibiyu, Abuja, as reported by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications.

"Instead of widespread citizen frustration with prolonged case backlogs and slow adjudication, he maintained that the administration of justice must be both fair and swift so that the common man can have confidence in the judiciary as his last hope," he said.

The Court of Appeal started the 2025/2026 legal year in December 2025 with 31,618 pending appeals and 3,382 pending motions, according to numbers shared by the President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem.

She noted that the court's backlog dropped from 41,952 appeals in the last legal year to 31,618 as of October 2025. Mrs Dongban-Mensem also pointed out that election petitions, constitutional matters, and other complex appeals continued to put a lot of pressure on the court's schedule.

During the inauguration of the new complex, the president said, "Let justice be swift. Let it be fair. Let it be blind to status, tribe, or purse. Let the common man feel that this court is truly his last hope."

He recognized the workload of judges, especially at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal.

"The eyes of Nigeria are on you. You deserve an environment that matches the weight of your responsibility," he stated.

He acknowledged that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had been operating for too long from a cramped and inadequate space. "A nation that seeks justice must respect the temple of justice," he remarked.

He mentioned that the complex fits into his administration’s plan to reform the judiciary. This plan aims to improve governance, strengthen the rule of law, and give more support to the judiciary.

He added that the facility has two large courtrooms and eight smaller courtrooms. He said this will help handle cases better and support faster justice delivery.

Mr Tinubu praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for finishing the project on time. "You promised 16 months. You delivered in record time. No excuses. No variation. Just results," he said.

He also commended the FCT Administration for backing judicial reforms. This includes building court facilities and homes for judges, as well as efforts to digitize court processes.