The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, recounted his decision to revoke the certificate of occupancy (C of O) for several plots allocated to the German construction firm Julius Berger in the Katampe District of Abuja.
Wike made these remarks on Monday during the official Flag-Off Ceremony for the Design and Construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in the nation’s capital.
The event was attended by notable figures, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.
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Wike announced that 70% of the funding for the project has already been released following its approval by the Federal Executive Council last month.
Of the 40 units to be built, 20 will be designated for the FCT High Court, 10 for the Federal High Court, and 10 for the Court of Appeal.
He emphasized that providing post-retirement housing for judges helps protect them from manipulation, interference, and potential temptations.
Addressing the CJN, Wike recalled how the land for the proposed quarters was secured. “My Lord, let me bring to your notice. You have seen this land here. When we were looking for where to get land to build. I was driving around looking for empty land and I got here and saw this empty land.
“I saw the big post: ‘Julius Berger’. I didn’t talk. I called the director of lands (and asked him): who owns that land? And he said: Julius Berger. When was it allocated? He said about 15, 20 years ago. 15, 20 years ago? Nothing has been done? I didn’t bother.
“So, I invited the MD (Managing Director of) Julius Berger. He came and we had dinner. I didn’t talk about the land. The next day, he was in the office and he saw the revocation letter as a matter of public interest.
“He called me and said but I had dinner with you. I said yes; we had dinner but we didn’t discuss the land.
“How will the government allocate land for more than 20 years for organisations to develop and they did not develop it? Thank God they did not develop it and now we can have it.”
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