The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made a bold declaration that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, no judge serving in the FCT High Court will be living in rented accommodation by the end of the President’s first tenure in 2027.
Wike made this statement on Monday during the official flag-off of the design and construction of residences for FCT Heads of Courts. He stressed that this initiative will bring to a close the long-standing issue of judicial officers in Abuja living in rented quarters – a practice many have called embarrassing and inappropriate for their position.
“No judge of the FCT High Court will remain in rented quarters before the end of Tinubu’s first term,” Wike said.
“We are not talking about the Federal High Court or the Industrial Court; this is strictly for the FCT High Court.”
This development is part of a broader plan under Tinubu’s government to strengthen judicial independence and enhance dignity for judicial officers.
Wike revealed that the houses being constructed will become permanent homes for the judges when they retire – not government properties to be reassigned.
He clarified that the decision had the full approval of President Tinubu, and legal seals had already been issued in the names of the current heads of courts.
“These homes are not temporary quarters. Once the judges retire, the houses belong to them; that is the President’s directive. It’s not politics. It’s policy,” Wike said firmly.
This marks a shift from the usual practice in Nigeria’s public service, where retiring officials often vacate government-owned residences.
Wike’s announcement is not isolated. It follows several key judicial infrastructure projects initiated since 2024, including: the construction of 40 judges’ quarters in Katampe District, flagged off in November 2024, the groundbreaking for new magistrate courts in Jabi, started in September 2025.
All of these fall under the FCT Administration’s plan to modernize the justice system’s infrastructure and improve the welfare of judicial workers.
Also speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the provision of proper housing for top judicial officials would not only enhance their operational independence but also reduce corruption.
“When judges have secure and befitting accommodation, they are more focused, more confident, and less susceptible to compromise,”
Fagbemi said.
He argued that this initiative is a step toward institutional reform, and thanked both the President and Wike for their “clear prioritisation of judicial dignity.”
