The National Judicial Institute (NJI) has firmly debunked widespread social media claims alleging that judges sang the political chorus “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand” during the Opening Ceremony of the 2025 All Nigeria Judges Conference.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the NJI described the reports as “false, unfounded, and completely inconsistent with the events that transpired at the ceremony.”
The Institute clarified that the National Anthem was the only song rendered collectively by participants at both the beginning and end of the event, stressing that “no Judge in attendance sang or chanted any political song at any point during the programme.”
According to the NJI, the brief tune of “On Your Mandate” that echoed during the ceremony was played solely by the Guards Brigade Band as part of its standard military ceremonial protocol to usher President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the podium.
“The Judiciary had no control over the musical selections of the Brigade, which operates under military ceremonial procedures,” the statement emphasized.
The NJI also explained that judges stood up only out of “due deference to the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” as he approached the podium, not in allegiance to any political figure or slogan.
Reaffirming its commitment to constitutional neutrality, the Institute stressed that the Judiciary remains “strictly non-partisan, deeply committed to constitutional neutrality, and wholly insulated from political activities or symbols of political allegiance.”
It further cautioned the public and media against circulating misinformation capable of eroding trust in national institutions.
“Any attempt to distort the solemnity of the event or attribute political motives to judicial officers is unfortunate, misleading, and a disservice to the public,” the statement noted.
The NJI urged Nigerians to verify reports before sharing them, reaffirming that the Judges Conference is a statutory professional gathering focused solely on strengthening the nation’s justice system.
