By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has unveiled an ambitious plan to end the era of judges living in rented quarters in the nation’s capital by 2027, as the Federal Government on Monday, flagged off the construction of new housing estates for heads of courts in Abuja.
The initiative, approved by President Bola Tinubu and executed by the FCT Administration, will allow judges in the FCT to own their official residences upon retirement.
The housing project, located in the Asokoro, covers the design and construction of 4 units of houses for the heads of the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court, the FCT High Court, and the National Industrial Court.
Announcing the development at the flag-off ceremony, Wike said the decision followed President Tinubu’s directive to prioritise the welfare and safety of judicial officers in the territory.
Wike, while decrying the condition of judges said, “Sometimes you don’t know the landlords of these houses. Sometimes you don’t know their neighbors. These judges preside over criminal matters or other serious matters indeed. And of course, you never can tell what will happen,” the minister said.
“What we are doing today is not just for heads of courts while they are in service. As they retire, the property becomes their own. This is the approval of Mr. President, and that is why we issued the Certificates of Occupancy, C-of-Os, in their names,” he added.
He assured that before the end of the President’s first tenure, no FCT judge will be living in a rented apartment, noting that the era of exposing judicial officers to insecurity and financial stress will soon be over.
“Before the first tenure of Mr. President ends, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in a rented quarter. That will come to an end, and we are making sure that this is done.”
The Minister further explained that the project has already been fully funded, with clear timelines and no room for variation or delay. “We don’t have a history of starting projects and abandoning them. The agreement says 12 months — no variation, no excuses. We have done the soil test, provided the funds, and the work must be delivered as scheduled,” he stated.
He disclosed that the FCT High Court would also be fully digitalised under the 2025 budget as part of ongoing reforms to modernise judicial operations and reduce case delays.
In his goodwill message, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the initiative as a landmark intervention that would transform judicial welfare and entrench the rule of law.
Fagbemi commended President Tinubu for approving both the housing scheme and the recent 300.2 percent salary increase for judicial officers, a gesture he described as the first in over two decades.
The Attorney-General further argued that providing secure and permanent accommodation for heads of courts would not only enhance judicial independence, but also help curb corruption within the system.
He explained that when judges are adequately provided for, the temptation to compromise integrity for material comfort is drastically reduced.
“The provision of secure and befitting accommodation for heads of court will enhance operational independence, personal security, and institutional dignity, thereby enabling judicial officers to discharge their duties with great focus and authority.
“The issue of corruption will be reduced to the barest minimum because even if you accuse the judiciary of corruption, what are they going to use the money for? For accommodation? It’s already guaranteed,” Fagbemi said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a collective commitment to strengthening the pillars of justice and governance in the nation’s capital.
“This project is about honour, dignity, and institutional pride, providing befitting residences for our esteemed Heads of Courts whose wisdom and integrity uphold the rule of law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said.
Mahmoud commended President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and applauded Wike’s “dynamic and practical commitment” to transforming Abuja’s infrastructure landscape.
