TINUBU COMMISSIONS 20-UNIT HIGH COURT JUDGES QUARTERS, DISMISSES CRITICS OF JUDICIAL INTERVENTIONS
By: Wisdom Acka
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, 15 July, 2026, commissioned the newly completed 20-unit residential estate for judges of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in the Katampe District of the FCT, dismissing critics who claim such infrastructural projects are meant to compromise the independence of the judiciary.
Represented at the event by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the President stated that the state-of-the-art quarters represent a tangible step toward fulfilling his Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to rebuild institutional trust, secure the nation, and uphold the rule of law.
He emphasized that true judicial independence cannot exist in abstract terms without providing a secure and dignified environment for judicial officers.
The President directly addressed media commentaries suggesting that the provision of housing by the executive arm was a calculated attempt to exert improper influence over the bench.
He questioned why similar criticisms were not leveled against recently commissioned staff quarters for lecturers at the Nigerian Law School, among other infrastructure.
”If every act of infrastructural provision is to be read as a corrupting influence, then even decent housing for our law lecturers will fall under this suspicion,
“That cannot be a fair standard. For the umpteenth time, I say that this is an intervention project and has nothing to do with the budget of the judiciary, which remains intact, ongoing, and respected,” Tinubu said.
He added that while the projects do exert influence, it is an influence of comfort and security meant to free judges from physical discomfort, allowing them to focus entirely on their solemn constitutional duties.
The President admonished the judicial officers to reciprocate the gesture through an unwavering commitment to the swift, fair, and transparent dispensation of justice without showing underserved favor to the government.
Tinubu stressed that the Katampe project follows previous interventions by the FCT Administration, which included the handover of 10 residential units each for judges of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court, alongside ongoing housing developments for the National Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal within the same area.
Earlier, the FCT Minister, explained that the housing initiative stems from a direct presidential mandate given to him and the Attorney-General of the Federation to prioritize the welfare and security of the judiciary.
Wike noted that many judges previously lived in insecure environments, sometimes inadvertently residing near individuals whose criminal cases they were actively adjudicating.
The Minister also used the opportunity to clarify ongoing land-grabbing allegations against his office on social media, explaining that the land utilized for the quarters was originally allocated to construction company, Julius Berger (Nig) PLC.
He stated that the FCT Administration revoked the plot under overriding public interest after the company left it undeveloped without infrastructure for many years.
Following appeals from the judiciary, Wike announced that he, alongside the Attorney-General, would seek presidential approval to transition the newly commissioned quarters into an “owner-occupier” arrangement for the beneficiary judges.
He promised that the administration aims to construct 20 additional houses for FCT judges before the expiration of the President’s first term, while urging the current beneficiaries to maintain a high standard of environmental cleanliness and facility preservation.
Abuja Digest reports that the commissioning marked the 26th day of project unveilings by the FCT Administration under Minister Nyesom Wike to celebrate President Tinubu’s 3rd anniversary in office.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Husseini Baba Yunusa, expressed profound gratitude to both President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for transforming a vision conceived two years ago into a reality. He stated that a supportive environment is vital for judicial officers to discharge their duties with courage and clarity of mind.
“As beneficiaries, we do not take this gesture for granted. We receive it with humility, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to duty”, the Chief Judge pledged, affirming that the FCT High Court will continue to dispense justice fairly, fearlessly, and without favour.
Also speaking, the Head of Service of the FCTA, Nancy Nathan, thanked President Tinubu and the National Assembly for their legislative oversight, while commending the FCT leadership for translating executive vision into tangible urban transformation that elevates the working conditions of Nigeria’s judicial arbiters.
Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, Richard Dauda, while presenting the technical overview, stated that out of a total of 40 residential quarters for judges, 20 of them were for FCT High Court judges.
He explained that the project was designed to provide secure, functional, and comfortable residential accommodation for judicial officers to enhance the delivery of justice and the sustenance of the rule of law in the Federal Capital Territory
Dauda further disclosed that the contract for the Quarters was awarded to Details-2-Dot Nigeria Limited in September, 2024, adding that each unit is composed of a 5-bedroom duplex with boys’ quarters and the estate has facilities such as a supermarket, asphalt-paved roads, gymnasium, a standby generator, and perimeter fencing.
