Buhari: We must sustain confidence in judiciary

President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that a collapse of public confidence in the justice system will have disastrous consequences for the entire nation.

He called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to work with government to avert collapse of public confidence in the justice system of the country.

Buhari made the call at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday while receiving the National Executive Committee of the NBA.

“Let me reiterate that the collapse of public confidence in the justice system will have disastrous effects on our democracy and will negatively affect the capacity of the legal profession to thrive and flourish in the country,” he said.

Charging the NBA to ensure the highest form of discipline among its members, Buhari asked the body to ensure that all cases of indiscipline and corruption were tackled effectively.

He expressed worries over alleged attempts by some senior lawyers to corrupt judges system.

President Buhari assured that his administration would continue to operate on a foundation of the rule of law.

“We are convinced that corruption and impunity flourish when due process mechanisms are disregarded. We, however, expect a corresponding duty on the part of all professional bodies and the judicial such as the NBA to ensure the highest forms of discipline among their members,” he said.

NBA president, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud had drawn Buhari’s attention to the association’s concerns on prisons’ congestion, the need for compliance with judicial decisions and the modus operandi of some of the anticorruption agencies.