FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says President Bola Tinubu has approved a housing project that will ensure no FCT High Court judge lives in a rented apartment before 2027.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that no judge serving in the FCT High Court will be living in a rented apartment by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first tenure.
Wike made this known on Monday during the flag-off ceremony for the design and construction of official residences for the Heads of Courts of the FCT, a project aimed at improving judicial welfare and strengthening the independence of the judiciary.
“Before the first tenure of Mr President ends, no judge of the FCT will be living in a rented quarter,” Wike stated.
“I said before the first tenure ends, no judge of the FCT High Court; I didn’t say Federal High Court, I didn’t say National Industrial Court, but of the FCT High Court, will be staying in a rented quarter.”
The initiative, he explained, reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to institutional reform within the justice sector and follows previous projects, including the construction of new magistrate courts in Jabi in September 2025 and 40 judges’ quarters in Katampe District, launched in November 2024.
Wike stressed that the housing project for judicial officers was not an act of interference by the executive arm but rather a constitutional responsibility of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to provide public infrastructure in the FCT.
“What we are doing today is not just for the heads of courts, and when they retire, they go, no. As they retire, the properties become their own. And that is the approval of Mr President,” he explained.
“The policy of Mr President is that these heads of court, as they are retiring, must go home with their houses. And that is the true position.”
He added that the initiative covered top judicial officers, including the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judges of the Federal and FCT High Courts, and the Judge of the National Industrial Court, who will all retire with the official residences constructed for them.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), commended the move, describing it as a bold step toward strengthening judicial independence and integrity.
“The provision of secure and befitting accommodation for heads of courts will enhance operational independence, personal security, and institutional dignity, thereby enabling judicial officers to discharge their duties with great focus and authority,” Fagbemi said.
“The issue of corruption will be reduced to the barest minimum because even if you accuse the judiciary of corruption, what are they going to use the money for? For accommodation? It’s already guaranteed.”
Fagbemi praised President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for prioritising institutional strengthening and infrastructural investment that reinforces both judicial welfare and governance accountability.
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