Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, has warned that punishing or silencing whistleblowers erodes public trust in the judiciary and weakens Nigeria’s anti-corruption campaign.
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Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at the first National Interactive Forum on Whistleblowing and Whistleblower Protection for Federal High Court judges, Tsoho represented by Justice Dorcas Agishi described whistleblowers as critical actors in exposing corruption, fraud, and impunity.
“Without proper protection, whistleblowers face dire consequences, including job loss, social ostracism, and even threats to their lives. When they are silenced or punished, a powerful tool against corruption is lost. This undermines the very foundation of our legal system and our efforts to build a just and transparent society,” he stated.
Tsoho emphasized that the judiciary has a “profound responsibility” to ensure courts remain a refuge for individuals who risk everything to reveal the truth.
The forum was organised by the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, Tap Initiative, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CeFTPI), and Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG). It focused on strengthening judicial capacity to handle whistleblowing cases.
Delivering the keynote, NHRC Executive Secretary Tony Ojukwu, represented by Harry Obe, stressed that whistleblowers should be regarded as “patriots, not traitors.” He argued that their role extends beyond financial recovery to defending rights to healthcare, education, clean water, and dignity.
“Every naira stolen is a hospital bed empty, a classroom roofless, a road unmade, and a justice system compromised,” Ojukwu said. “Whistleblowers are not disruptors — they are defenders of the rule of law. The judiciary must therefore be their shield, not their silence.”
Ojukwu urged the judiciary to adopt progressive interpretations of existing laws, fast-track whistleblower cases, protect anonymity, and impose exemplary damages against retaliation. He further called on the National Assembly to treat the Whistleblower Protection Bill as a “legislative emergency,” while tasking law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute those who threaten or attack whistleblowers.
In his goodwill message, Umar Yakubu, Executive Director of CeFTPI, described whistleblowers as “the sentinels of public integrity,” insisting that their protection is a “non-negotiable prerequisite for a functional anti-corruption ecosystem.”
Pere Ikuetemi, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Justice, raised concerns over provisions in the draft bill that give the proposed National Whistleblowing Council wide discretion on compensation, creating uncertainty for informants. He called for sustained advocacy at the National Assembly to close gaps and for broader awareness to guide whistleblowers, stressing that “judges cannot bear the burden of implementation alone since they are not manufacturers of evidence.”
The whistleblower protection bill, first transmitted to the National Assembly in 2022, stalled before completion. It was resubmitted in 2024 to President Bola Tinubu but is yet to be passed.
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