Judiciary Key to Investor Confidence, Market Reform – Shettima

By Oluwakemi Kindness

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the Nigerian judiciary to play a more decisive role in boosting investor confidence and accelerating economic reforms by ensuring timely resolution of capital market disputes.

Speaking at the SEC Judges’ Workshop in Abuja on Monday where he was represented by his adviser Tope Fasua, Shettima said legal certainty and efficient justice delivery are vital to achieving the government’s N1 trillion economy target.

“Justice delayed is justice denied—especially in capital markets where timing is everything,” he stated, urging judicial officers to collaborate with regulators and deepen their knowledge of capital market laws.

He urged judicial officers to deepen their understanding of capital market laws and collaborate closely with regulators to enhance market credibility.

Also addressing the forum, SEC Director-General Dr. Emomotimi Agama described the newly enacted Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2025 as a legal milestone poised to improve investor protection and financial innovation.

He stressed the judiciary’s role in interpreting the law effectively to realize its full impact.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, represented at the event, underscored the judiciary’s role in economic inclusion, saying market-related rulings now affect pensioners, fintech players, and small savers alike.

She urged judges to stay abreast of evolving financial instruments such as digital assets, green bonds, and cryptocurrencies.

Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, noted that the capital market is key to job creation and innovation, and called for greater synergy between the judiciary, regulators, and operators to ensure market integrity.

The workshop brought together senior judges, legal experts, and capital market stakeholders to strengthen the judiciary’s capacity for resolving financial disputes in a fast-evolving economic environment.

Discussions centered on enhancing the judiciary’s capacity to adjudicate market-related cases and respond to the demands of a dynamic financial ecosystem.