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Tinubu repositioning Nigeria’s judiciary to strengthen justice delivery – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says President Bola Tinubu is repositioning the judiciary to strengthen the administration of justice.
Wike stated this at the inauguration of the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Complex, in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that President Tinubu’s approval for the construction of the Appeal Court Complex, accommodation for judges and justices and retirement homes was a testament of the importance attached to the judiciary.
“There are things that must be done for us to get it right, and one of the things that must be done for this country to move forward is to put the judiciary where it is supposed to be.
“This is the essence of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
He explained that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dangban-Mensem had during the 2023 Legal Year requested for the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal and accommodation for judges.
He said: “I took the matter to president Tinubu, and he graciously approved.
“That there are three arms of government, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, and all must be treated equally.”
The minister stressed that the project would be completed before September 2025, adding that he would not be a party to a project that would take more than two years to deliver.
He said that the project would be executed at N37 billion, adding that N30 billion had been provided in the 2024 budget.
The minister warned the contractor, Visible Construction, not to collect money and fail to deliver the job, saying “you have collected the first set of money, I don’t want to hear it has been raining.
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“You collected the money when it was raining, so you must also do the job as it is raining.
“The contract was given to him to deliver in 16 months, but he promised to deliver between 12 and 13 months if funds are made available,” Wike said.
He added that president Tinubu had also approved the construction of 40 housing units for the accommodation of judges and justices.
He said that out of the 40 houses,10 would be allocated to the Court of Appeal, 10 to the Federal High Court and 20 to the FCT Courts.
He further said that Tinubu had equally approved the construction of retirement homes for judges and justices, beginning with the heads of courts.
“Mr President has approved the construction of retirement homes for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the FCT, President of the Industrial Courts and the President of the Court of Appeal.
“The Chief Judge of FCT also requested for more court rooms for the Magistrates in Maitama, Asokoro and Garki Districts.
“I want to assure that the foundation of the accommodation and retirement homes will be laid in August and completed before September 2024,” Wike said.
Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, explained that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, was sited in Dakibiyu District.
Ahmad added that the complex, which was located within the vicinity of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the FCT High Court.
He said that the five-storey complex would consist of 10 courts consisting of 10 suites for the Justices, administrative offices for the Registrar, support staff, and file rooms for storage of case documents.
Other facilities, he said, include conveniences and recess areas for the justices.
Earlier, Dongban-Mensem thanked Wike and Tinubu for recognising the role of Judiciary and taking steps to provide what it needs to perform its task.
“This marks a significant milestone in our collective commitment to strengthen the administration of justice in our great nation,” she said.
Inaugurating the construction of the complex, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode, Ariwoola thanked Tinubu, Attorney General and Wike for the support to the judiciary.
“All the judiciary needs is to be left alone to perform its role unhindered as much as possible. Once you take care of the judiciary, you’ve taken care of justice,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda, says more than 10 million vulnerable Nigerians who benefited from the N75,000 conditional cash transfer programme do not have access to mobile phones or social media.
Yilwatda disclosed this on Saturday while speaking with journalists after a three-day retreat of the APC National Executive Council in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The beneficiaries, whom he described as poor and vulnerable Nigerians, were largely unable to participate in public discussions about government policies because they lacked access to phones, television and social media.
“We have given 75,000 naira to over 10 million Nigerians across the country using the conditional cash transfer under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“Mind you, these people who are poor and vulnerable don’t have telephones to make calls; they are not on social media. They don’t have a television. They cannot come and challenge and discuss as we are doing here, but they are out there,” he said.
Yilwatda also criticised former Vice President and African Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over his position on the fuel subsidy.
“We are constructing roads and paying people that are working on the road site, and construction is going across the country,” he said.
“Over 30 states could not pay salaries and pensions. After we removed subsidies, all states can pay salaries and pensions, and no state is left behind.
“Today, if you return it, you are saying states shouldn’t pay salaries again. And what suffering are you bringing to Nigeria?”
The APC chairman also argued that a return to fuel subsidy would affect the government’s student loan scheme and other projects.
“The projects we’re doing across the country, like the coastal road and gas project to the north, which have passed Abuja, which are aimed at easing the suffering of Nigerians, will be suspended,” he said.
Yilwatda further accused Atiku of seeking to reverse the gains of the Tinubu administration in pursuit of the presidency, saying the APC and Nigerians would not accept such a move.
The APC chairman said the NEC retreat also reviewed the party’s activities at the national, state, local government, ward and polling-unit levels.
According to him, the party concluded that it remained strong and prepared for the 2027 general elections.
He said the NEC passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other APC candidates who emerged from the party’s primaries for the 2027 elections.
Ivie Atuwatse III, wife of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri, has opened up on the joys and challenges of being married to the traditional ruler, saying she takes pride in seeing people celebrate his achievements.
Ivie spoke in a recent interview with BBC News Pidgin, where she discussed life as the wife of the monarch and the demands that come with his position.
She said one of the things she enjoys most about the marriage is watching people appreciate her husband’s personality and achievements.
“The thing wey I like about being married to His Majesty is that, all the fame or the popularity wey him get, na say I get to see the world celebrate his genius, his swag also, cos me too I dey celebrate am,” she said.
“And when the world dey celebrate am, e dey ginger me more. I dey extremely proud of am as a human being, and to see that they also appreciate am dey give me much joy.”
However, Ivie admitted that the Olu’s responsibilities can sometimes make it difficult for her to have enough time with him.
“But on the other side, dem say food wey dey sweet sometimes flies dey like to chop from am,” she said.
“Sometimes e dey busy and it can be hard to want to share my husband with all the many different duties that he has, and so that can be equally difficult.”
She said they were learning to adjust to the demands of his position.
“And so, we are learning to navigate it because sometimes I just want him to myself,” she added.
The interviewer also asked whether she would accept another wife if the Olu changed his position on polygamy, having previously said he was not open to it.
Ivie dismissed the possibility, insisting that she was confident her husband would not change his mind.
“Firstly, His Majesty no go fit change him mind about polygamy. Make we just settle that one for there,” she said.
“Me alone, one me, I be like three women, so I dey alright for am.”
Old Trafford, Manchester United’s 74,000-capacity stadium, became a house of worship on Saturday as Nigerian pastor Jerry Eze led the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference, drawing believers from across Britain and beyond.
Hosted by Streams of Joy International, the conference brought together believers from across the United Kingdom and around the world for prayer, worship and fellowship.
Worshippers at the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference held at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. Photo: X / @AgborMoses34
Admission to the event was free, though attendees were encouraged to register in advance as places were limited.
Despite that, demand reportedly outstripped availability, with some social media users claiming the event was fully booked and turning to TikTok in the days leading up to the conference in search of spare tickets.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
The gathering featured several well-known gospel ministers alongside Eze, including Sunmisola Agbebi, Mercy Chinwo, Dunsin Oyekan and Kaestrings.
Worshippers during the NSPPD UK Prayer Conference at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Saturday. PHOTO: NSPPD/YouTube
(Credit: Saturday PUNCH)
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