The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, stated that the houses he built for certain Nigerian judges in Abuja were simply his way of implementing President Bola Tinubu’s policy.
During a media chat on Wednesday, former Rivers State governor Wike addressed allegations that his construction of houses for judges in Abuja was intended to sway the judiciary for political gain.
Wike clarified that the housing initiative for judges is not his own policy but part of a welfare program introduced by President Tinubu to support judicial independence.
Wike claimed that the project was part of the 2024 national budget and that his role is to oversee its implementation.
He said, “President Tinubu asked, ‘Where are the judges living? They have no homes, and that makes them vulnerable to political manipulation. As a president who values judicial independence, I believe judges must have their own homes.’”
Wike further said, “I am not the president. I am simply fortunate to serve as a minister in this administration, tasked with implementing the president’s policies. President Tinubu said, ‘This is what I want to do, so let’s find a way to make it happen.”
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“This is not just a personal decision—it’s a law, part of the approved budget. What’s the issue? I am simply carrying out the directive to ensure that judges, who currently live in rented accommodation, are relocated to more secure and appropriate housing.”
Wike said that the building of houses for judges is a “is in the budget of 2024, appropriated by the National Assembly, assented to by Mr President which is a law.
The minister explained that the construction of judges’ quarters was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and that he is simply carrying out an existing government-approved policy.
He added that even if the initiative had been his own idea, there would be no issue, noting that he had taken similar actions as the governor of Rivers State.
He criticized Nigerians, particularly those within the legal profession, who have opposed the project, asserting that it should be viewed as a positive measure to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
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