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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has firmly dismissed allegations that ongoing judicial infrastructure projects in Abuja threaten the independence of Nigeria’s judiciary.
Speaking after inspecting sites including the Court of Appeal complex, judges quarters, and heads of courts of appeal, yesterday, he described the initiatives as presidential interventions executed by the FCT Administration (FCTA) under the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). He insisted they aim solely to boost welfare, security, and efficiency for the third arm of government.
“There is nothing you would do that critics will not criticise. Before now, people complained that judges had nowhere to stay to do their work effectively. Now that the government is providing accommodation, they say it is an attempt to buy them. How many people can you buy?” he stated.
He stressed that no democracy thrives without a robust judiciary, adding that decent housing and secure environments do not erode constitutional independence. “You can’t talk about democracy without talking about the judiciary. You also can’t expect them to perform efficiently when they don’t have befitting places to stay. Even when funds are released to the judiciary, it is still the executive that provides those funds,” he noted.
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He explained that the projects stem from President Bola Tinubu’s directive shortly after his May 2023 inauguration, tasking the FCTA to ease judges’ accommodation burdens.
He highlighted a nearly completed Court of Appeal division with its administrative headquarters, now at 85 to 90 percent progress. “We were there this morning and saw that the work is almost finished. That directive was very clear, and we are glad that it is being faithfully implemented,” he said.
Additional efforts include 40 new residential houses for judges, 20 for FCT High Court, 10 for Court of Appeal and 10 for Federal High Court, with plans for National Industrial Court housing. “Houses of courts are also under construction for key judicial heads, such as the president of the Court of Appeal, president of the National Industrial Court, chief judge of the Federal High Court, and chief judge of the FCT High Court.
“We believe that by June or July, with the speed of work we are seeing, these projects will be handed over for Mr. President to formally present to the judiciary,” he disclosed, calling the scale unprecedented in Nigeria’s history.
Addressing delays in the Court of Appeal complex, he blamed last year’s heavy rainfall but assured completion soon for commissioning in President Tinubu’s third year. He praised the work’s pace and quality, reaffirming the administration’s dedication to a strong judiciary as democracy’s cornerstone.
