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| L-R) Executive Secretary FCDA Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, Director, Public Building, Arch. Bature Tagwai Garba, MD/CEO Details 2 Dot Development Co. Nig. Ltd, Arc Akor Adapoyi, FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike, former Mayor of Port Harcourt City Hon Victor Ihunwo and Chief Audu Ella during the Minister's inspection of almost completed Judges Quarters in Katampe district, Abuja, on Friday |
FCTA PRESS RELEASE
“PROVISION OF JUDICIAL INFRASTRUCTURE WILL NOT ERODE INTEGRITY OF THE
JUSTICE SYSTEM” - FCT MINISTER
…SLAMS NBA CHAIRMAN OVER COMMENTS ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has dismissed criticisms suggesting that the provision of residential accommodation and office complexes for the judiciary by the executive arm will erode judicial independence.
Barr. Wike made the remarks while speaking to journalists on Friday, May
8, 2026, following an inspection of ongoing judicial infrastructure facilities
and road projects, in the Abuja city centre, scheduled for commissioning to
mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year anniversary.
Reacting to the concerns reportedly raised by the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, that building courts or providing vehicles for judges will compromise their integrity, the Minister described the notion as "unfortunate" and inconsistent with historical facts.
He pointed out that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has
historically built infrastructure for various independent arms of government,
including the Supreme Court, the National Assembly, and the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC), and affirmed that the administration will
remain focused on its objectives, despite criticisms.
"We have built public houses both for the National Assembly and for
the judiciary. That Supreme Court complex was built by the FCDA. Even INEC
office was built by the FCDA. So, there is nothing new. The mere fact that the
executive constructs does not mean that will lead to interference... Mr.
President has directed the FCDA to make sure these buildings are constructed
for judges and justices to be focused on their work…We are focused and we will
go ahead", the Minister stated.
Barr. Wike further challenged the NBA Chairman’s stance by highlighting
the association’s own reliance on government funding for its activities. He
cited the forthcoming NBA conference in Rivers State which he said also
received sponsorship of the state government.
He said it was contradictory for the NBA leadership to raise concerns
about judicial independence while simultaneously seeking executive patronage to
fund the association's activities.
He said, "State governments have been funding you [the NBA], yet
you claim to be independent to speak. But if the government releases money to
an arm of government to perform its duties, that arm will not be independent?
It is unfortunate, but that will not deter us from doing our work.
“Instead of the NBA Chairman to commend what the Executive is doing, he
is interested in when they will go and apply for state governments to sponsor
NBA activities. Is that not interfering with the NBA as an independent
association that is supposed to talk about the judiciary? “I don’t know why it
has not eroded the independence of the NBA when they have been asking the
government to fund the association”.
“They are going to Rivers State for the NBA Conference in August. The
State government gave them money to host that conference. Does that mean now
that he will not speak out if the government is not doing well”, the Minister
queried.
Providing an assessment of the inspected sites, including the Judges’
Quarters, the collector road C01 in Life camp, the Abuja Division of the Court
of Appeal and the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp
Junction to Dei-Dei, Barr. Wike expressed high satisfaction with the level of
completion.
He noted that the Judges Quarters which was being constructed by a local
contractor was ninety-nine per cent ready, and will be one of the projects to
be commissioned to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year in office.
At the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, however, the Minister
expressed reservations about the finishing touches and directed the contractor
to make amends before its commissioning.
He said, "I must say it’s not the quality I expected, and I have
told the contractor. I have pointed out errors that should be improved on...
There is still an opportunity for them to make amendments before the
inauguration".
The Minister also revealed that ground-breaking ceremonies would soon
take place for the residences of the National Industrial Court and the Code of
Conduct Tribunal judges, adding that the FCTA was working to deliver the
promises made to residents by President Tinubu.
On the road sector, the Minister commended Julius Berger for the 100
percent completion of the N5 road, adding that he has directed the firm to link
an 800-meter stretch road to the Dei-Dei/Life Camp road, where another road
construction is currently ongoing so as to ensure total connectivity in the
area.
Addressing questions on environmental sanitation, Barr. Wike ruled out
the return of a once-a-month sanitation day in the FCT, arguing that
cleanliness must be a daily culture rather than a monthly event.
Noting that a single day of cleaning cannot sustain a city's hygiene, the Minister rather advised residents to cultivate the habit of clearing drainages and bringing out their wastes to facilitate efficient collection by contractors
Furthermore, the Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration is
currently evaluating proposals for recycling plants that can convert refuse
into valuable products to address the challenge of sustainable waste disposal.
He said, “Waste disposal is not an easy task all over the world. You
must have a factory for recycling this waste. Having a dumpsite is not enough
to say that the problem has been solved. So, it's another area we are looking
at, how to have waste recycling to use the waste for another product. We are
already thinking about that and we are getting offers from people who have done
that in one place or the other”.
More Pictures and captions:
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| An aerial view of ongoing construction of Judges Quarters in Katampe on Friday |
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| A section of the almost completed Judges Quarters in Katampe district Abuja on Friday |
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| An aerial view of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal nearing completion on Friday |
RABI MUSA UMAR
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PRESS
(OFFICE OF THE HONOURABLE MINISTER)
08/05/2026
FCTA/ODP/PR/839
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