Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the Nigerian judiciary to resist blackmail and uphold justice with unwavering integrity.
He emphasised that the third arm of government must not yield to pressures that threaten its independence.
He spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the inaugural ‘Body of Benchers Annual Lecture’ and the public presentation of the ‘Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee Report’.
Shettima underscored the judiciary’s vital role in maintaining accountability, fairness, and order in Nigeria.
“A nation is only as accountable, fair, and orderly as the people who make, enforce, and interpret its laws,” he said, cautioning judges and legal practitioners against succumbing to political or external influences.
He condemned the notion that justice should favour the loudest voices, warning that every instance of judicial compromise erodes the nation’s foundation.
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He praised the judiciary’s resilience in upholding President Bola Tinubu’s mandate despite political blackmail.
“The judiciary did not yield to the weight of vested interests but stood firm in recognising that the fate of a nation is too sacred to be intimidated or bartered for compromise,” Shettima said.
The Vice President also reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining a cordial relationship between the three arms of government, stating that collaboration rather than hostility is key to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, commended the Body of Benchers for its dedication to ethical legal practice, stressing that the profession’s sanctity rests on the body’s shoulders.
In his keynote address, former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola urged the legal profession to embrace internal reforms that ensure justice is dispensed speedily and credibly.
He highlighted the importance of character formation and self-discipline in preserving the profession’s dignity.
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Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and Solicitor General of the Federation, Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, also emphasised the need for legal practitioners to evolve with modern challenges while maintaining the highest ethical standards.
The event ended with the public presentation of the ‘Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee Report’ by Shettima.
