*“Secure Housing Enhances Judicial Independence and Dignity” — Says AGF Fagbemi
*“Residences Are a Strategic Affirmation of Judicial Independence” — Justice Hussein Baba
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to elevating the welfare of judicial officers, announcing the flag-off of the design and construction of official residences for key heads of courts in the FCT. Speaking on Monday at the event in Abuja, Wike declared that the administration would ensure no FCT High Court judge lives in a rented apartment by the end of Tinubu’s first term.
The initiative targets the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, and the President of the National Industrial Court. Under the policy, approved by President Tinubu, each beneficiary will retain ownership of their residence upon retirement. Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) have already been issued in their names, underscoring the permanence of the gesture.
“When Mr. President appointed us, one of the issues he emphasized was the need to enhance the welfare and performance of judicial officers,” Wike stated. Drawing from his experience as former Rivers State governor, he highlighted the risks faced by judges living in rented accommodations, often unknown to their landlords or neighbors. “You can’t tell what risks they face living under such conditions,” he added.
Wike further assured broader support for the judiciary, noting that the FCT Administration is constructing 10 duplexes for the Court of Appeal—set for handover by year’s end—and 20 for the FCT High Court. “Bola Ahmed Tinubu does not make promises and fail,” he emphasized, addressing the judges directly. “As his agent, I want to assure you that we will provide those houses for you. So, don’t bother yourself to remind me anywhere you see me—take it to the bank and you can cash from it.”
Directing the contractor, Wike ordered completion within 12 months. “No one person will complete this project for us; we are going to complete this project,” he said, adding a light-hearted note to retirees: “When you are retiring, stay firm—it’s your house.”
The minister also praised the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for his unwavering support. “On behalf of the FCT, we want to sincerely thank you; the support we have gotten from you, we can’t quantify it,” Wike said. He revealed that Fagbemi’s influence led to the inclusion of FCT High Court digitalization in the 2025 budget, with immediate action via a summoned general council to kickstart the project.
Wike recalled Tinubu’s track record as Lagos State governor in improving judicial welfare, stating, “Of course, we do not expect anything less now that he is president.”
In his remarks, Fagbemi commended the administration’s focus on judicial reform. “The provision of secure and befitting accommodation for heads of courts will enhance operational independence, personal security, and institutional dignity,” he said. He linked the initiative to anti-corruption efforts, quipping, “The issue of corruption will be reduced to the barest minimum because, even if you accuse the judiciary of corruption, what will they use the money for? Accommodation? It’s already guaranteed.”
President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, expressed profound gratitude to Tinubu for the approval, Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for her endorsement, and Wike for spearheading the project. “This flag-off ceremony is not just a significant and commendable milestone; it is coming at no better time than now,” Kanyip said. He emphasized how secure housing would bolster judicial focus, mental well-being, and public trust in the justice system, free from external influences.
Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf, hailed the project as a “landmark” that places justice at the core of national development. Praising Wike’s legacy—from prioritizing judicial welfare in Rivers State to his “unprecedented infrastructural development” in the FCT Baba Yusuf noted, “An onlooker who is not familiar with the spade of development in the FCT would think that you only cater for the judiciary.” He described the residences as more than architectural feats: a “strategic affirmation of the welfare, security, and independence of judicial officers,” essential for a credible rule of law.
Wike challenged critics to cite any similar precedent in the FCT’s history, positioning the initiative as a cornerstone of Tinubu’s vision for judicial independence and FCT infrastructure renewal.
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