Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has condemned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for initiating a housing project aimed at gifting houses to judges in Abuja.
Falana expressed his concerns during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, highlighting potential conflicts of interest.
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In September, Wike announced the construction of 40 houses for judges in Abuja’s Katampe District. The project allocation includes 20 houses for judges of the FCT High Court, 10 for judges of the Federal High Court, and 10 for judges of the Court of Appeal.
This move sparked public criticism, with many questioning the appropriateness of the executive branch gifting judges.
Falana argued that such gifts could compromise judicial independence, as the executive should not provide direct benefits to the judiciary. “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory operates like a state governor by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution,” he explained. “You cannot, as the head of the FCT, be dishing out gifts of cars and houses to judges of federal courts, especially when you have cases pending before these courts.”
He emphasized that any support for the judiciary should be managed by the National Judicial Council (NJC) and routed through the National Assembly. “If the executive wants to assist the judiciary, the appropriate approach is to go to the National Assembly for a supplementary budget,” Falana stated.
He argued that the NJC should handle housing provisions for judges to maintain judicial integrity and avoid potential conflicts of interest.
Meanwhile, Wike defended the project, clarifying that it was part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader welfare plan to ensure judicial independence. He denied allegations of attempting to influence the judiciary, stating, “This initiative is not my own. It is part of President Tinubu’s plan to guarantee the independence of the judiciary by providing them with secure housing.”
Wike further explained that the housing project had been approved in the 2024 budget by the National Assembly and received the President’s assent. “It was approved by Mr. President, sent to the National Assembly, and is part of the 2024 budget. I am merely implementing a policy approved by the Federal Government,” Wike said.
He also noted that the Federal Executive Council had approved the contract for the housing project, dismissing claims of personal influence. “This is a policy anyone should commend. It is aimed at moving judges from rented accommodations, often in unsafe areas, to secure quarters,” Wike added.
Falana, however, maintained that providing such housing should be within the NJC’s remit and budget, to avoid undermining the judiciary’s independence. “Judges need houses, cars, and security, of course. But these should be provided by the NJC within its budget,” he concluded, calling for a review of the initiative to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions.
