The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has debunked allegations that the construction of houses for judges in Abuja is aimed at influencing them for political purposes.
During a media call on Wednesday, Wike clarified that the housing project is not his personal initiative but part of a welfare package designed by President Bola Tinubu to support judicial independence.
Wike emphasized that he is simply fulfilling his role by implementing an already approved project.
Wike explained, “(Tinubu said) ‘Where do the judges live? They have no home and are therefore open to political manipulation and for me, as president who wants to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, judges must have their home.”
“I am not Mr. President; I am fortunate to have been appointed minister under this government and to be in a position to implement its policies. And Mr. President said, look, this is what he wants; come by and see what we can do.
“It was approved by the President and sent to the National Assembly in the 2024 budget that judges and judges’ quarters should be built. That they should move judges from where they rent houses and live among criminals.
“A policy that everyone should commend, Mr. President, it is in the 2024 budget, appropriated by the National Assembly, approved by Mr. President, which is a law. What’s the problem? I’m just the executor, going to implement this.
“The Federal Executive Council approved the contract and everything. It’s not my policy. How are you going to kill me for implementing what the federal government has approved?”
Wike insisted that there was nothing wrong even though it was his idea to build houses for judges, adding that he had done something similar as Governor of Rivers State.
The former governor of Rivers State lamented the criticism instead of praise for this project, especially from those in the legal profession.