The judiciary has a critical role to play to foster confidence in the Nigerian capital market and drive the federal government agenda to achieve the N1tn economy target.
This was the consensus by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka Anite, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr Emomotimi Agama and other stakeholders in the capital market who participated in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Judges’ Workshop in Abuja on Monday.
They called on Nigeria’s judiciary to strive to enhance trust, build confidence and boost efficiency within the country’s capital market.
In his speech, Shettima highlighted how effective dispute resolution mechanisms by the judiciary could boost investors’ confidence and ensure market stability.
“A strong and trustworthy capital market is fundamental to national economic transformation,” the Vice President said.
Beyond its role as a trading platform, the VP noted that the capital market plays a crucial role in mobilizing long-term funds required for infrastructure development, business expansion, and job creation, which are all essential ingredients for Nigeria’s development goals, amid a young and growing population.
Shettima stressed that investors’ trust hinges on a legal system that is capable of resolving disputes promptly and fairly.
“Justice delayed is justice denied, especially in financial markets where timing is critical,” he stated, urging judges to deepen their knowledge of capital market laws and work closely with the SEC to uphold market integrity.
He also reassured participants of the government’s commitment to supporting judicial independence and improving access to justice, including through alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as mediation and arbitration, aimed at easing court congestion and speeding up settlements.
The workshop, which brought together the Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges, Attorney-General, SEC officials, and key legal practitioners, had as its theme: “Repositioning the Nigerian Capital Market for National Economic Transformation through Effective Dispute Resolution.”
The Director-General of SEC, Dr Agama said the workshop was organized to build judicial capacity, encourage consistency in rulings, and foster collaboration between regulators and the judiciary.
He commended the President and the National Assembly for the successful passage and signing into law of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025.
“The ISA 2025 is a legislative success, a legal milestone and a reform that ushers in a new era for our capital market development.
“By enacting this progressive law, Nigeria has taken a bold step toward fostering a more transparent, efficient, resilient and secure investment climate.
“The diligent efforts of the Executive and Legislative arms in ensuring the seamless passage of this Act reflect a shared commitment to economic growth, financial stability and sustainable development,* Agama said.
In celebrating this achievement by the government, Agama said the entire capital market community was grateful for the unwavering dedication to policies that advance collective prosperity in the country’s economy.
He expressed optimism that the Act would serve as a beacon for further economic reforms capable of attracting investments, empowering businesses and creating lasting opportunities for all Nigerians.
The workshop, he pointed out, was part of the Commission’s objective of engaging the Judiciary in all aspects of capital market operations, especially on the specialized law, regulations and ethics upon which he said market integrity heavily relied on.
“This Workshop is part of the firm commitment of SEC to a deeper engagement with all stakeholders, ensuring that the provisions of the ISA 2025 are widely disseminated, discussed and fully understood, in order to achieve our goals in restoring investors confidence, bringing timely succour to aggrieved investors and creating a broad-based participation of Nigerians in wealth creation,” he said.
Within the context of national economic transformation, Agama said the capital markets has assumed a more prominent role, as no economy can develop without a vibrant and resilient capital market that facilitates capital formation and promotes economic growth.
He emphasized the critical role of the capital market in addressing challenges in the national economy, such as infrastructure deficit and unemployment, by supplying government with long-term financing for infrastructure and allowing companies to raise funds to expand their operations and create jobs.
To the judges, the SEC DG reminded them to bear in mind that their interpretation of the provisions of the law would set legal precedence that would shape market behaviour for several decades.
Recent cases, he pointed out, highlighted the need for judicial preparedness, adding that the workshop would provide practical case studies on capital market litigation, foster dialogue between judges, regulators, and market operators and equip the judiciary with the tools to handle sophisticated financial crimes.
The Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said the capital market was no longer a distant abstraction limited to high finance or institutional investors to become a critical lever of economic participation and empowerment.
From pension contributors and fintech entrepreneurs to diaspora bond subscribers and small-scale investors, she said the capital market has affected livelihoods, opportunities, and national competitiveness.
“As such, it is not merely an economic mechanism, it is a democratic tool for wealth creation and national stability. Yet, like all vital systems, it is vulnerable,” she noted.
She described the capital market as a repository of trust, as well as a potential site of distortion.
“It is a platform for innovation, but also susceptible to fraud and regulatory arbitrage. In this regard, the Judiciary has a profound role to play, not as passive arbiters, but as active custodians of economic integrity and commercial justice,” she said.
“We must acknowledge the emergence of new financial frontiers— digital assets, cryptocurrency transactions, green financing instruments, and transnational securities.
“These developments often outpace the tools of traditional adjudication. It is not sufficient to apply existing principles without adaptation; nor must we yield to the illusion that novelty negates precedent. Instead, we must engage with these issues in a manner that preserves legal consistency while remaining responsive to evolving commercial realities,” she admonished.
The CJN described the recent enactment of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, as a welcome development, adding that its provisions offer enhanced regulatory clarity and investor protection mechanisms.
She said the task of the judiciary was to breathe life into these statutory instruments, to give them meaning that aligns with legislative intent, commercial logic, and ethical consciousness.
The workshop, she pointed out, was not simply a training exercise, but a platform for self-examination and renewal; a crucible for deepening understanding of the demands that modern financial adjudication places on the Bench.
“The decisions we render in capital market disputes reverberate beyond the courtroom; they shape public confidence, influence investor behaviour, and impact the stability of financial institutions. Let us not lose sight of the powerful signals our decisions send.
“When justice is swift, sound, and credible, capital is attracted, innovation flourishes, and prosperity becomes inclusive. When judgments are delayed, ambiguous, or uninformed, economic activity is stifled and confidence eroded,” she said.
The Judiciary, she charged, must therefore see itself not only as an interpreter of the law, but as a co-architect of national economic order.
In her comments, Uzoka-Anite emphasized the significance of the workshop as a platform for dialogue and capacity building among institutions responsible for maintaining financial market integrity.
She described the capital market as a catalyst for economic growth, structural development, innovation, and job creation, especially in a potential-rich economy like Nigeria.
The collaboration between regulators, the judiciary, and all stakeholders, she noted, was essential to preserve public trust, resolve disputes efficiently, and ensure consistent interpretation and application of capital market laws.
She identified SEC as a critical partner in achieving Nigeria’s economic agenda through effective regulatory oversight of the capital market.
