The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has refuted claims that the construction of homes for judges in Abuja is intended to influence them for political gain.
Wike clarified that the project is not his initiative but part of a broader welfare package introduced by President Tinubu to promote judicial independence.
Speaking during a media chat on Wednesday, Wike emphasized that the project was approved in the 2024 budget and that his role is simply to implement it as part of his official duties.
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Wike explained: “(Tinubu said) ‘Where are the judges living? They have no homes and therefore open to political manipulation and for me as a president who wants to guaranty the independence of the judiciary judges must have their homes’.
“I am not Mr President; I am only lucky to be appointed as a minister under this administration and who is in the position to implement his policies. And Mr President said, look, this is what he wants, come up and see what we can do.
“It was approved by Mr President, sent to the National Assembly in the 2024 budget that there should be construction of judges and Justices quarters. That they should move judges from where they are renting houses, living among criminals.
“A policy anybody should commend Mr President, it is in the budget of 2024, appropriated by the National Assembly, assented to by Mr President which is a law. What is the problem? I am only the implementor, go and implement this.
“Federal Executive Council approved the contract and everything, it is not my policy, how will you now want to kill me that I am implementing what the Federal Government approved?”
Wike insisted that there would be nothing wrong even if the idea to build homes for judges had originated with him, noting that he had implemented a similar initiative during his tenure as governor of Rivers State.
The former Rivers State governor expressed disappointment over the criticism the project has received, particularly from members of the legal profession, instead of receiving commendation.
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