₦airaland Forum

Khallicopyro:
Na only judges dey Abuja? What of doctors? What of teachers? What of police? They don't deserve houses? Why always judges?

cocolacec:
Judiciary is the third arm of the Government.Military,civil servants and Police are messengers of the three arms of Govt.
The hierachy is Executive,Legislature and the Judiciary.

Giftimoni:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU7TNjmd9OU

“We cannot afford to continue to see judges living in rented houses, sometimes squatting with relatives. By the end of President Tinubu’s first tenure, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in rented quarters,” Wike declared.

He said the administration will deliver 10 duplexes each for the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, and 20 for the FCT High Court.

The minister stressed that the houses would not revert to government ownership upon the retirement of the beneficiaries.

“This is a policy of Mr President. When judges retire, they must go home with their houses. Nobody will reclaim them. That is the true position,” he said.

Wike also revealed that the digitization of the FCT High Court has been provided for in the 2025 budget, with immediate implementation to follow.

cocolacec:
Judiciary is the third arm of the Government.Military,civil servants and Police are messengers of the three arms of Govt.
The hierachy is Executive,Legislature and the Judiciary.

AndroBlaze:
The days when he was in PDP and acting James Bond movies for Federal Judges , most were watching him and praising them then, the "Lion of Rivers" he was called..... now those same people are gnashing their teeth and pretending like he has sunk to new lows that have never been seen...lol

When this "so-called democracy" is truncated in Nigeria, it will be because of chameleons like Wike that have no scruples and have bribed and compromised everyone and everything, people who hold nothing sacred, and make our first Republic politicians/actors (yes ooo those who led us into a civil war) look like Saints !!

LukaGbileve:
What about Magistrates/Lower court judges?
Why is their welfare not a priority when they are the first judicial officers who handle even more terrible cases and are closer to the grassroots. Minister Wike you cannot give priority to Superior court judges alone. It is unfair. It is now time to unify the pay structure of Magistrates nationwide and improve it handsomely. Provide Vehicles for them and allowances to cater for their needs and those of their families same way it is done for Judges. Judges and Magistrates are all lawyers first and foremost and are doing the same jobs. This is an appeal and also a demand. Thank you.

Giftimoni:
httjmd9OU

“We cannot afford to continue to see judges living in rented houses, sometimes squatting with relatives. By the end of President Tinubu’s first tenure, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in rented quarters,” Wike declared.


ith immediate implementation to follow.

Sermwell:
Abeg tell us when in his PDP days was he building houses for judges? Abeg tell us oh

By Timileyin Akinmoyeje

On Monday, Nyesom Wike, the minister overseeing the Federal Capital Territory, announced the revocation of Julius Berger’s ownership of a plot of land in Abuja and its re-allocation for the construction of a judges’ quarters.

Wike made this announcement during the flag-off ceremony for the housing project, attended by Kudirat Kekere Ekun, the Chief Justice of the Federation. Wike noted that approximately 70% of the funding for the project had already been released.

However, Wike’s unilateral decision has stirred significant controversy on social media. Some users express concerns about the implication of these ‘gifts’ on judicial independence in Nigeria.

On Friday, Chidi Odinkalu, a professor of law, wrote about this on X. He quoted a section of the Nigerian Judicial Code of Conduct: A Judge shall avoid developing excessively close relationships with frequent litigants—such as government ministers or their officials—if such relationships could reasonably create an appearance of partiality.

Kalu Aja, a finanical analyst and social critic, also reacted to Wike’s decision, albeit indirectly. He described it as “fruit of a forbidden tree”.

On the more formal front, the Falana and Falana law firm called for the reassignment of a case involving Wike from a Federal High Court in Abuja to another in Rivers, according to a Vanguard report.

The law firm, in a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, cited concerns about potential bias in the Abuja Judicial Division due to the minister’s involvement in the housing projects for judges.

READ ALSO: ‘Wike’s In-law’ Listed as One of FCT High Court Judge Nominees

“Apart from the issue of forum convenience, our client have decided to request the transfer on the ground of likelihood of bias in the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court as the Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is an interested party in this case, has announced plans to build houses for judges within the Katampe District of the Federal Capital Territory,” the letter read in part.

Notably, the allocations for judges’ housing in the FCT were not included in the 2024 capital expenditure budget, nor were they found in the plans for the ministries of Justice and Housing and Urban Development.

N6 BILLION FOR JUDGES HOUSING QUARTERS IN RIVERS
Wike has a history of building houses and buying gifts for judges. The former governor has on many occasions described these gestures as part of a ‘judicial welfare’ commitment.

In 2020, while serving as the governor of Rivers State, he handed over 24 houses to judges in the state. The project cost the state approximately N6 billion.

Wike provided cash payments of N150 million each to about 23 judges who declined the housing offer, stating, “Judges have a choice to receive a properly built house from the state government or opt for cash payments to build or buy their houses themselves.

“With our policy, the State now bears the full responsibility to providing befitting accommodation for all judicial officers of Rivers State origin beyond their service years for life.

“The State Government spent N6 billion to build, furnish, and landscape this estate. The government also reserves interest to buy back any flat and reallocate to other judges to preserve exclusivity of the estate for judicial officers alone.

“The policy covers all former Chief Judges, Presidents of Customary Courts of Appeal including Justice Peter Agumagu. All retired Judges in service when the policy was made. Current Chief Judge of the state will have her accommodation built before retirement in May, 2021.”

In 2021, Wike reinforced his commitment to ‘judicial welfare’ by signing the Housing Scheme for Judicial Officers Bill into law. He argued that ensuring judges have proper housing would help combat corruption and foster independence within the judiciary.

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING
Beyond houses, Wike has made headlines for ‘gifting’ cars to judges in the past.

In 2020, he gifted 41 special utility vehicles (SUVs) one time, TheCable reported. On another occassion, he gifted 29 customary court judges new Renault Koleous SUVs.

Before that time, Wike had given 35 Ford Explorers to some judges about a year after he assumed office as Rivers State Governor.

While these gestures are framed as efforts to support the judiciary, they raise questions about ethics.


The Judicial Code of Conduct outlines expectations for judges to maintain high standards of propriety. It clearly states that judges and their families should not accept gifts that could be perceived as influencing their judicial duties:

As members of the public expect a high standard of conduct from a Judge, he or she must, when in doubt about attending an event or receiving a gift, however small, ask himself or herself the question, How might this look in the eyes of the public?

Kukutente23:
If I understand you, are you saying Tinubu should go home with Aso rock villa after completing his term?

And Akpabio too should go with the SP's residence in Asokoro

Giftimoni:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU7TNjmd9OU

“We cannot afford to continue to see judges living in rented houses, sometimes squatting with relatives. By the end of President Tinubu’s first tenure, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in rented quarters,” Wike declared.

He said the administration will deliver 10 duplexes each for the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, and 20 for the FCT High Court.

The minister stressed that the houses would not revert to government ownership upon the retirement of the beneficiaries.

“This is a policy of Mr President. When judges retire, they must go home with their houses. Nobody will reclaim them. That is the true position,” he said.

Wike also revealed that the digitization of the FCT High Court has been provided for in the 2025 budget, with immediate implementation to follow.

PotatoSalad:
Step 1. Buy the judiciary and you'll be untouchable.
Imagine you get case against Wike, and it's presided by one of these compromised judges...