Chief Malcolm Omirhobo has condemned the proposed offering of accommodation to Judges by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, saying “it amounts to an infraction on the independence of the judiciary and a loss of public trust and confidence i n the judiciary”.
According to him, when a government provides accommodation for judges and makes a show out of it , it amounts to an infraction on the independence of the judiciary.
Omirhobo took a swoop on the federal government while reacting to the noise in public spaces over the promised provsion of accommodation to the Judges on his X account on Tuesday when he said:
“Accommodation for judges is something to be taken for granted in a democratic setting so when a government provides accommodation for judges and makes a show out of it , it amounts to an infraction on the independence of the judiciary and a loss of public trust and confidence i n the judiciary”
Precise Post recalls that the federal government recently approved the construction of 40 houses for judges in Abuja.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike announced this decision following a Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, which President Bola Tinubu presided over.
The initiative, part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to provide secure and convenient accommodation for judiciary members.
According to Wike, the 40 residences will be constructed in the Katampe district, with 20 allocated to the FCT High Court, 10 to the Federal High Court, and 10 to the Court of Appeal.
He said the project is slated for completion within 15 months.
He said, “Also, given the importance that the President attaches to the Judiciary, he finds it problematic that judges and Justices will live in rented houses and hotels. That is unsafe for our judicial officials and inconvenient for them to do their work. The president directed that the FCT, through the FCDA, immediately construct 40 numbered judges and Justices’ quarters in the Kantampe district.
In addition to the housing project, Wike said FEC approved several infrastructure developments to improve access to the judicial quarters.
There is “construction of an access road from Artillery Road N11 from Mabuchi to the judges’ quarters. Development of all internal roads within the judges’ quarters.”
