President Muhammadu Buhari has again charged judicial officers to live above board and support the efforts of his government aimed at fighting corruption in Nigeria.

He made the call on Monday, November 23, 2015, while declaring open the 2015 All Nigeria Judges Conference at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja.

The 3-day conference with the theme, “  The Judiciary as a Veritable Instrument for Sustaining Democracy in Nigeria,” is a bi-annual gathering, where judges and various stakeholders converge to discuss issues and challenges in the dispensation of justice.

Speaking through the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, Buhari underscored the crucial role of the judiciary and the constructive relationship between the judiciary, the executive and the legislature in salvaging our economy from the shackles of corruption.

He described corruption as an egregious crime against humanity and explained that the judiciary has faced its peculiar challenges as regards funding, outdated rules and corruption. He urged the Nigerian Judiciary to work assiduously and fight against the perception of corruption in the system.

Earlier in his keynote address, the Chief Judge of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, called on representatives of all arms of government to support the judiciary and discharge their duties with equity and good conscience.

“The judiciary is the only independent institution in this democracy and it has lived up to its description as the last hope of the common man”, the CJN remarked.

Members of the National Assembly; Ag Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; Comptroller General of Customs; President, Court of Appeal; Comptroller General of Prisons Service and religious leaders, were among dignitaries that witnessed the opening ceremony.

Media & Publicity Unit