Judges welfare strategic investment in rule of law, Tinubu says

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, commissioned the 10th Court of Appeal judges’ quarters in Katampe, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), framing the project as a targeted investment in the welfare of judicial officers and by extension, the nation’s rule of law.

The commissioning is part of a three‑week programme marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and comes a day after Vice‑President Kashim Shettima opened a new Court of Appeal complex.

In his address, President Tinubu, represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the provision of secure accommodation and conducive living environments for judges was central to ensuring an efficient, independent judiciary that could deliver justice without hindrance.

“A strong and effective justice sector requires not only sound laws and competent judicial officers, but also the infrastructure and support systems necessary to enable the judiciary to perform its constitutional responsibilities,” Tinubu said. “The welfare of judicial officers is a strategic investment in the rule of law.”

The President stressed that the quarters were not mere bricks and mortar but practical measures that protect judicial independence by reducing distractions and vulnerabilities that can arise from inadequate housing. He described the project as a special intervention by the Federal Government, distinct and separate from the judiciary’s statutory budgetary allocations, and said it complements recent increases in funding for the judicial sector under his administration.

By prioritising judges’ welfare, Tinubu argued, the government was safeguarding public confidence in the judicial system and strengthening the broader governance architecture upon which democratic stability and economic development depend.

He commended the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and his team for swiftly implementing the directive and announced additional land in the precinct set aside for quarters for judges of the National Industrial Court, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal High Court and the High Court of the FCT. The cluster of facilities, he said, could be dubbed “Judiciary Boulevard.”

Tinubu used the occasion to call on the state governments to mirror the federal example, reminding sub‑national authorities that responsibility for supporting the judiciary extends beyond Abuja. He urged states to ensure their courts are adequately funded, properly equipped and provided with necessary infrastructure to maintain impartial and effective adjudication.

Wike, on his part, dismissed critics who portray executive interventions in judicial infrastructure as attempts to compromise the courts, arguing that such facilities were essential to guaranteeing the true independence of the judiciary.

He recalled that during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State, a judicial panel nullified his own election at the exact time his administration was building state-of-the-art facilities for the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.

“Ordinarily, a politician might refuse to help after that. But, who loses if we don’t build? The people of the state lose,” he said. “Taking care of these institutions does not cost us more than we can afford and it directly guarantees the true independence of the judiciary.”

He urged state governors to stop leaving judicial welfare entirely to the Federal Government, stressing that federal court divisions hosted within states primarily serve the citizens of those states. Drawing from his experience, he recalled how he built courts and accommodation to prevent local litigants from travelling to the neighbouring Bayelsa State.

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, described the newly commissioned quarters as a judicial sanctuary that strengthens the rule of law by protecting the welfare and independence of judicial officers.

She said the residential estate provides a secure, dignified and tranquil environment that allows judges to repose, reflect and deliberate away from the courtroom. “While public attention centres on proceedings, the quality of justice is profoundly influenced by the conditions under which judicial officers live,” she said.

She listed three benefits of the quarters, including protection from coercion and reprisals, integrity through reduced vulnerabilities to interference and retention of experienced judges. “Adequate residential security attracts and retains judges and thereby strengthens the rule of law,” she added.

Recalling her time as presiding judge in Enugu, she urged sustained investment in modern facilities and technology for the judiciary. “Building a judiciary fit for the next 50 years requires continued commitment to judicial welfare,” Justice Dongban-Mensem said, thanking President Bola Tinubu and FCT minister for the project and urging its replication across other divisions.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, said the FCT Administration awarded a contract in September 2024 to Dots Development Nigeria Limited to deliver 40 judges’ quarters in Katampe, of which 10 units are for Court of Appeal judges.

He said the estate was built to high standards and includes fully furnished five‑bedroom duplexes for each of the 10 units, each with detached boys’ quarters. Community amenities include an event centre with a minimum capacity of 150 people, a neighbourhood shop and a dedicated recreational ground. Infrastructure and utilities comprise asphalt‑paved access roads and walkways, full electricity power supply, water reticulation and centralised backup generators housed in dedicated structures. Comprehensive perimeter fencing and a secured gatehouse provide security for the estate.

The ceremony drew senior judicial officials, life benchers, members of the FCT administration and other stakeholders who participated in the project.