Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, has called upon the Nigerian populace to substantiate allegations of corruption against judicial officers with concrete evidence, rather than resorting to unsubstantiated petitions and public condemnation.
Speaking at the Court of Appeal’s 2025/2026 legal year ceremony in Abuja, Justice Dongban-Mensem highlighted the increasing frequency of unsubstantiated allegations against the judiciary. She emphasized that the appropriate avenue for addressing grievances regarding court decisions is through the established appellate process.
The Need for Evidence
“We consistently hear allegations of corruption leveled against judicial officers. We implore you to provide the evidence,” she stated. “Evidence is paramount. In the absence of concrete evidence demonstrating corruption within our ranks, we firmly believe that we are performing our duties to the best of our abilities, even amidst challenging circumstances.”
Judges’ Welfare and Security
Justice Dongban-Mensem also advocated for improved welfare for judges, particularly in the area of accommodation, stressing the importance of secure housing for their safety. She cited a tragic instance where a judge was murdered due to living in an unsecured environment.
She urged the public to refrain from resenting judicial officers when they receive government support, emphasizing that judges are restricted from engaging in private business ventures and are therefore reliant on state assistance.
“We lack the time to pursue other income-generating activities to support ourselves,” she explained. “We implore the public not to begrudge us for receiving support from the government we serve, as this support does not compromise our integrity.”
Impartiality and the Appeal Process
Justice Dongban-Mensem underscored that judges are guided strictly by facts and the law. While acknowledging that errors may occur, she asserted that such mistakes are unintentional.
“We examine the facts and apply the law accordingly. If we fail to do so, there are three levels of appeal available,” she stated. “Judges are fallible, but we do not deliberately err.”
She advised litigants to pursue appeals rather than filing petitions against judges. “Pursue an appeal. Judges should not be burdened with responding to petitions. A judicial decision should be challenged through appeal, not petition,” she added.
Commendation for Legal Practitioners
The Court of Appeal President commended legal practitioners for their contribution to strengthening justice delivery and urged lawyers to enhance the quality of their research and court submissions.
Call for Constitutional Amendment
Justice Dongban-Mensem also called for a constitutional amendment to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal, citing the significant backlog of cases awaiting judicial attention. “Electoral matters consume a disproportionate amount of our time and energy,” she noted.
Alternative Dispute Resolution
She urged lawyers to encourage their clients to embrace amicable settlements through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
“While the general elections are behind us, electoral litigation remains a prominent feature of our docket. Post-election disputes from governorship and legislative contests continue to reach the court for off-season elections,” she explained.
“Endless litigation depletes our limited resources. We are currently facing a serious debt situation. We therefore appeal to political actors: democracy cannot thrive if every electoral contest is taken to the courtroom.”
“The spirit of sportsmanship must prevail. We urge politicians to respect the will of the electorate, accept outcomes in good faith, and prioritize the peace and progress of our nation above personal ambitions,” she added.
Case Statistics
Providing statistical data, she reported that the Court of Appeal received 5,225 appeals and 9,906 motions across its 20 divisions during the last legal year. Of these, 3,193 appeals were determined, 5,623 motions were heard, 2,503 appeals were dismissed, and 690 were allowed.
“As of October 31, 2025, the court has 31,618 appeals and 3,382 motions pending.”
“Compared to the 2023/2024 legal year, a significant improvement is evident. In that year, only 2,299 appeals were determined, and the number of pending appeals stood at 41,952.”
“The substantial reduction in the backlog this year reflects the exceptional dedication and hard work of my fellow justices in dispensing justice judiciously and judicially,” she stated.
As of October, the court’s ADR centers handled 121 matters, of which 34 were successfully resolved, 26 were returned to court for adjudication due to a lack of consensus, and 61 were still pending.
Attorney-General’s Remarks
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), expressed sympathy for the judiciary in light of public criticisms.
“It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that in recent months, the judiciary has come under public scrutiny and criticism, often marked by misrepresentations of judicial decisions in the public space,” he said.
“These criticisms, whether fair or misplaced, remind us of the delicate balance between judicial authority, public trust, and perception. Yet, let it be said clearly: criticism of the judiciary is a testament to the central role it plays in our democracy.”
The AGF called for accelerated hearings in commercial cases, emphasizing their importance to economic growth.
“While political cases often command public attention and urgency, it is imperative that we also recognize the critical role of commercial litigation in shaping the destiny of our nation. In an era where economic stability and foreign investment are indispensable to national growth, the timely resolution of commercial disputes becomes a matter of public importance.”
“I therefore respectfully urge this honorable court to accord accelerated hearing to commercial cases whose outcomes bear directly on the economy, investor confidence, and the prosperity of our people,” the AGF added.
NBA President’s Address
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, described the Court of Appeal as the backbone of Nigeria’s evolving jurisprudence, noting that it remains the reference point when decisions of lower courts are questioned and when fundamental rights are tested.
“In this era of national and global turbulence, defined by economic uncertainty, political tensions, and social unrest, the judiciary must continue to stand as a bulwark of stability, of fairness, and of hope. The Court of Appeal has a pivotal role in interpreting the law in ways that reinforce public trust, spread accountability, and maintain the delicate balance required for a functional democracy,” he said.
He warned that systemic challenges continued to affect the justice system.
“Recent reports indicate that over 245,000 cases were pending in superior courts of record, including the Supreme Court, as of last year. Prolonged proceedings, repeated adjournments, procedural technicalities, and in some instances unmeritorious appeals, continue to congest court records. Many litigants endure years, and in some cases decades, of awaiting justice. As we all know, justice delayed is not only justice denied; it is justice diminished.”
“Persistent underfunding of the judiciary continues to undermine the capacity of courts to function effectively. Inadequate resources manifest in poor infrastructure, insufficient courtrooms, inadequate support staff, outdated manual processes and slow adoption of modern case management technologies.”
“Equally concerning are the recurring allegations of bribery, undue influence, bureaucratic inefficiency and inconsistent decision-making in parts of our judicial system. These issues, whether perceived or real, corrode public trust. When citizens begin to believe that justice can be bought, negotiated or improperly influenced, the moral foundation of the judiciary weakens,” he added.
He emphasized that slow adjudication, especially in corruption and public interest cases, had weakened deterrence and public confidence.
“Access to justice also remains limited for a significant number of citizens. High costs of litigation, geographical barriers, slow court processes and inadequate infrastructure place formal justice out of reach of many, particularly the poor, rural dwellers and vulnerable groups. Consequently, a growing number of citizens resort to informal or extrajudicial dispute resolution. While these mechanisms may be convenient, they undermine the rule of law, weaken judicial authority and threaten long-term social cohesion.”
“Globally, we have also seen troubling trends where the rhetoric of judicial reform has been used to weaken judicial independence. In some jurisdictions, experienced judges have been replaced with loyalists, courts have been sidelined, and the separation of powers eroded. These international developments remind us that judicial institutions, no matter how established, remain fragile.”
“However, while hard-won gains can be lost, they are painfully difficult to regain. My Lords, despite these daunting challenges, they are not insurmountable. They require collective courage, institutional foresight and an unwavering commitment to integrity from all stakeholders – the judiciary, the legal profession, the executive, the legislature and the public,” Osigwe said.
He added that while the problems may be heavy, the mission remains noble and sacred.
Charging the judiciary to remain strong and rise above the pressure, he said, “We must continue to rise above pressure, political or otherwise, and remain the moral anchor of our justice system. As this new legal year begins, we urge Your Lordships to remain courageous, visible, fair and steadfast in the interpretation of the law.”
“For our part, the Nigerian Bar Association will continue to champion reforms aimed at enhancing judicial independence, strengthening institutional capacity and promoting anti-illegal practices,” Osigwe said.
