By Abiola Olawale
Following growing criticisms, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained reasons he embarked on the construction of houses for Federal judges in Abuja.
Wike, a two-term governor of Rivers State who spoke with the media, said the construction of residences for judges is not his policy initiative, adding that it is an integral component of the welfare packages devised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He explained that the President decided to enhance and safeguard the independence of the judiciary, ensuring that judges can perform their duties without external pressures or influences.
It would be recalled that Wike came under fire after several individuals began to criticise him for building houses for judges.
Many had accused the Minister of building houses for judges to pocket them for political reasons.
However, the Minister debunked the allegations that the building of homes for judges in Abuja is to pocket the judges for political gains.
Wike explained: “(Tinubu said) ‘Where are the judges living? They have no homes and are therefore open to political manipulation, and for me, as a president who wants to guarantee 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 also maintained that there was nothing wrong even if it was his idea to construct homes for judges, adding that he had done something similar as the governor of Rivers State.
The former Rivers State governor lamented the criticisms for this project instead of commendations, especially from those in the legal profession.
