A legal practitioner, Opatola Victor, has commended President Bola Tinubu for proposing an increase in the number of Justices at the Court of Appeal, describing the move as a positive step toward speeding up justice delivery. He made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television, where he acknowledged that more judges would help reduce delays in handling cases at the appellate level.

However, Victor stressed that increasing the number of Appeal Court justices alone will not solve the deeper problems facing Nigeria’s judiciary. According to him, true reform must include full judicial independence, especially financial autonomy. He argued that the judiciary should have the power to access its budget directly from the Consolidated Revenue Fund rather than depending on politicians.

The lawyer warned that relying on politicians for funding, housing or financial support threatens the independence of the courts and weakens public confidence in the justice system. He noted that when judges appear financially dependent on the executive or legislature, it creates doubts about fairness and impartiality in judicial decisions.

Victor further emphasized that rebuilding trust in the justice system should be a top priority. He said Nigerians must believe that courts can deliver justice without fear or favour. Beyond increasing the number of judges, he called for stronger institutions, better funding structures and reforms that will enhance the overall capacity of courts to deliver timely and credible justice.