THE CABLE
Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, has criticised Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), for gifting houses to judges.
In September, the minister flagged off the construction of 40 houses for judges in Abuja, which sparked a public outrage.
He said 20 of the houses, when completed, would be allocated to judges of the FCT high court, while 10 would be given to the judges of the federal high court and 10 to those of the court of appeal.
However, Wike on Wednesday denied the claim that the houses are being constructed to pocket the judges for political gains.
He said the construction of homes for judges is part of President Bola Tinubu welfare packages designed to promote the independence of the judiciary.
Reacting to the development during an appearance on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme, on Wednesday, Falana said the judges have no business going to the executive to buy them cars and houses.
The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said autonomy of the judiciary has been constitutionalised.
“The minister of the federal capital territory operates like a state governor by virtue of the section 299 of the Constitution,” Falana said.
“So, he cannot say I am going to build 40 houses; 10 shall go to the federal high court, 10 shall go to judges in the FCT high court and 10 shall go to the court of appeal and supreme court, No.
“Because you are a minister of the federal government like a state governor, your budget is limited to the affairs of the FCT.
“So, you cannot, as the head of the FCT, be dishing out gifts of cars and houses to judges in the federal high court, in the appeal court and the supreme court.
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