Wike Defends Housing Projects For Judiciary, Says It’s Not To Compromise Judges

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lashed out at critics who claimed his administration’s massive infrastructure drive for the judiciary was an attempt to ‘buy over’ judges, declaring that such allegations will not deter him from delivering on President Bola Tinubu’s directives.

Wike made the statement on Thursday in Abuja after conducting another inspection tour of ongoing projects for the judiciary, including the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, 40 residential units for the Court of Appeal, and new facilities for the FCT High Court and Federal High Court.

Speaking at the construction site for houses designated for heads of courts, the minister emphasised that the current administration was the first to provide official retirement residences for chief judges and their equivalents, a move he said would further guarantee judicial independence and welfare.

“Let us do first. There is nothing you would do that the critics will not criticise. Before now, care was not taken for the third arm of government.

“Before now, they said judges have nowhere to stay to carry out their job efficiently and effectively. Now you are providing it, it becomes an attempt to buy them. How many people can you buy over?

“So these things shouldn’t bother us. Mr. President means well for the judicial arm of government which is very, very key. You can’t talk about democracy without talking about the judiciary. You can’t talk about them doing their work when they cannot have befitting places to stay,” he said.

The minister detailed the scope of the projects, stating that they stemmed directly from President Tinubu’s directive to reduce the accommodation burden on the judiciary.

He confirmed that the Court of Appeal division is 85–90 per cent completed, while 40 residential units were under construction, 20 for the FCT High Court, 10 for the Court of Appeal, and 10 for the Federal High Court, with plans to soon begin similar projects for the Industrial Court.

“We believe, by the grace of God, with the speed they are going, by June, July, they will have handed over these projects for Mr. President to hand over to the judiciary,” Wike said.

He highlighted the unique nature of providing retirement homes for heads of courts.

“It has never happened in the history of this country where Heads of Courts are being given houses on their retirements. So, this is a good development and also about the independence of the judiciary,” he said.

While addressing concerns about delays due to last year’s heavy rains, Wike expressed optimism for timely completion.

“We hope that we don’t have that kind of problem this year… We believe that it is one of those projects that will be inaugurated during the tenure of Mr. President.

“All these allegations of you are doing this to buy them, let it be provided first before we talk about who is buying who and who is not buying who. So, that is our position,” he said.

The projects, once completed, are expected to significantly improve the living and working conditions for judges and justices in the FCT.