Wike Flags Off Construction Of Judges’ Residences, Grants Ownership On Retirement

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has flagged disconnected the operation of authoritative residences for the heads of the nation’s superior courts, with a landmark declaration that the properties volition go their idiosyncratic possessions upon status from service.

The project, which volition supply residences for the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the FCT, and the President of the National Industrial Court, was hailed by elder judicial figures arsenic an unprecedented determination to unafraid the payment and independency of the judiciary.

Wike, successful his code astatine the ceremonial successful Abuja connected Monday, revealed that the inaugural was a nonstop directive from President Bola Tinubu.

“One of the things that Mr. President said is that improving the payment and enhancing the show of judicial officers successful this state has been a problem. I said to Mr. President, ‘we can’t spend to proceed to spot judges surviving successful rented houses’,” helium said.

He highlighted the information risks and discomfort faced by judges, recounting a poignant anecdote.

“I tin ideate however a presiding justness posted to Abuja was squatting with his ain member for 2 years. Tell maine however comfy helium would beryllium successful that location to bash his work?” helium asked.

Wike besides erased immoderate ambiguity astir the ownership of the properties, announcing that Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) had already been issued successful the names of the serving heads of court.

“Let maine marque it clear, arsenic they retire, the spot becomes their own. This is the support of Mr. President. So each of you who are present now, don’t deliberation that erstwhile they are leaving tomorrow, the buildings volition beryllium taken distant from them,” helium said.

The minister, known for his absorption connected task delivery, publically reconciled a discrepancy betwixt the contractor and the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, securing a steadfast 12-month completion deadline.

“Don’t travel and bring saltation to hold this job. This is simply a peculiar occupation that indispensable beryllium handed implicit astatine the clip we person agreed. We person mobilised you, and we person the funds to pay,” Wike warned the contractor.

He further expanded connected the administration’s broader lodging plan, announcing that 10 duplexes were being built for the Court of Appeal, 10 for the Federal High Court, and 20 for the FCT High Court.

The curate vowed that earlier the extremity of President Tinubu’s archetypal term, nary FCT High Court justice would unrecorded successful a rented apartment.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the task arsenic “marvellous successful our eyes” and a testament to the President’s commitment.

“I cannot readily callback successful caller times immoderate medication that has extended this magnitude of infrastructural involution and palpable enactment to the judiciary,” helium said.

Fagbemi said that specified payment enhancements would assistance trim corruption, asking, “What are they going to usage the wealth for? For accommodation, it is already guaranteed.”

The Chief Judge of the FCT, Hon. Justice Husseni Baba Yusuf, commended Wike’s unprecedented infrastructural development, stating that the curate had demonstrated capableness and knowing of the job.

The President of the National Industrial Court, Hon. Justice Benedict Kanyip, recalled Wike’s akin enactment arsenic politician of Rivers State.

He noted that the task goes “beyond rhetoric” and is simply a “practical objection of enactment for the judiciary, which reinforces nationalist spot successful the justness system.”

Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the task arsenic a corporate committedness to strengthening the pillars of justice.

She commended President Tinubu for his visionary enactment and applauded Wike for his dynamic leadership, relentless drive, and applicable committedness to transforming Abuja’s infrastructure landscape.