FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has rejected criticism by the Nigerian Bar Association over the federal government’s construction of residential quarters for judges and justices in Abuja, accusing the association’s leadership of inconsistency and describing the NBA chairman’s remarks as both unfounded and unfortunate.
Wike made the remarks after inspecting ongoing judicial infrastructure projects in Abuja, including judges’ residences, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division, and proposed residential facilities for judges of the Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
He disputed the NBA’s characterization of the residential projects as executive interference in the judiciary, arguing that the government had a long tradition of constructing public facilities for all arms of government without that constituting any form of institutional compromise. He cited the construction of the Supreme Court building as a prior example of the same principle.
“The mere fact that the executive constructs does not mean it will interfere with the judiciary. It’s unfortunate,” Wike said, adding that the FCT Administration would not be distracted from improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers.
He accused the NBA leadership of applying a double standard, alleging that the association regularly sought financial support from state governments for its conferences and activities while simultaneously criticizing government interventions in the judiciary. He said such support from governments did not constitute interference in bar independence, just as government construction of judicial residences did not constitute interference in judicial independence.
Wike expressed satisfaction with the scope of work at the judges’ quarters, describing the facility as 99 percent ready for inauguration, but expressed dissatisfaction with the finishing quality at the Court of Appeal Abuja Division project, directing the contractor to make corrections before the inauguration date.
