WIKE ANNOUNCES JUNE HANDOVER OF BODY OF BENCHERS ANNEX, RESPONDS TO NBA

By: Wisdom Acka

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has announced that the annex building for the Body of Benchers will be handed over by June this year.

He made the disclosure during a meeting with a delegation from the Body of Benchers, led by its new Chairman, on Tuesday, 12 April, 2026, at his official residence in Life Camp District, Abuja.

Wike revealed that he had inspected the annex project just a day before the meeting and confirmed that it is nearly completed, recalling that the project was initiated after the former Chairman of the Body approached him for support.

“I told him, tell me what you came for… and that was how that annex project came about,” the Minister stated, reassuring the new Chairman that the facility would be delivered within the timeline.

On infrastructure, Wike said the access road leading to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) site is 98 per cent completed and will also be fully opened by June, with streetlights to be installed within the next ten days.

He also directed the Executive Secretary of the FCT to evaluate the possibility of constructing an additional access road to the annex building, as requested by the Body of Benchers.

The Minister used the occasion to address recent criticism of the judiciary by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), describing such attacks as counterproductive.

He argued that while constructive criticism is welcome, public denigration of judges undermines the profession. “You cannot come to the public and denigrate your own judges and justices,” Wike said, noting that providing enabling environments, not disparagement, ensures judicial independence.

He challenged legal professionals in government to reflect on their contributions to the judiciary. “As a lawyer, you’re a governor of a state. What did you do to enhance the efficiency and performance of the judiciary?” Wike asked, emphasizing that legacy is built through tangible interventions, not mere criticism.

The Minister also disclosed plans to increase the number of judges in the FCT High Court to at least 20, a move expected to reduce case backlogs. He invited the Body of Benchers to participate in the upcoming division of court complexes to improve efficiency.

In a lighter moment, Wike acknowledged his repeated absence from NBA dinners due to scheduling conflicts but promised to attend a future event, preferably outside Abuja, to allow members in other regions to interact with his administration.

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to supporting the legal profession, urging the Body of Benchers to always bring their needs to his attention. “For us, whatever FCT can do, do not hesitate to call our attention,” Wike stated.

Leader of the delegation and Chairman, Body of Benchers, His Royal Majesty Albert Akpomudje, had earlier commended the Minister for transformative infrastructural projects visible across Abuja.

Akpomudje described the Body of Benchers as Nigeria’s foremost legal institution, entrusted with maintaining the ethics of the bar and admitting new lawyers. He linked this mandate directly to the preservation of the rule of law, noting that the progress witnessed in the FCT under the current administration is heartening.

He stated that the FCT, as a symbol of national unity and the seat of government, is benefiting from commendable efforts in infrastructural renewal, environmental management, and enhanced public service delivery.

The legal luminary specifically praised the relentless pace of road construction and upgrades, ongoing both in the city centre and rural areas. “Indeed, this is what governance should be,” he said, acknowledging that every request the Body had previously made to the FCT Administration had been granted.

He cited the near-completion of the Body’s annex building, the advanced stage of a fire service station, and the construction of access roads as direct interventions fulfilled under the Minister’s watch.

The visit, according to the Chairman, underscored the critical relationship between the legal profession and public governance, emphasizing the need for the judiciary, the bar, the executive, as well as the legislature to work collaboratively within the law to strengthen democracy and promote national development.

Akpomudje lauded the administration’s focus on creating a conducive environment for the administration of justice, which aligns with the Body’s core interests.

The Chairman, however, presented specific appeals to the Minister, including completion of the dedicated access road and gate for the new annex building and provision of an independent water supply for the fire service station.

He also requested that the Minister’s occasional physical presence at their meetings or dinners would greatly encourage the Body. “It kind of gives us a lot of courage,” Akpomudje remarked.