The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the newly inaugurated residential quarters for judges of the FCT High Court will be allocated on an owner-occupier basis, subject to the approval of President Bola Tinubu and the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi.

Wike made the announcement on Wednesday during the inauguration of 20 residential units built for FCT High Court judges in Katampe, Abuja, as part of projects commissioned to mark President Tinubu’s third year in office. He also outlined plans to expand judicial infrastructure in the territory with additional courts and housing for judges.

He said the FCT Administration would continue investing in facilities for the judiciary to improve the administration of justice.

“We are not going to stop at residences, I know that before the end of the year we are handing over to the Chief Judge of the FCT structures for the Judges Court and Magisterate Courts so that they would be able to carry out their work very efficiently.

“One of the judges who incidentally is from my state said ‘look, all our minds are here and as you leave we are packing into our houses’ and I said on what basis? It’s still on owner occupier. I know that when I was governor I did that but now I’m under somebody and I must seek the approval, luckily the Attorney General is here and that is what it’s supposed to be that the houses be given on owner occupier basis. I can assure you that with the support of the Attorney General that approval will be gotten.”

Wike also said the administration plans to construct another 20 housing units for judges before the end of President Tinubu’s first term, noting that the current number of judicial officers makes additional accommodation necessary.

“We are not going to stop here, we are going to build more houses for the judges of the FCT, I’m told that the number is such that we cannot carry all at the same time. I believe that before the first tenure of Mr President expires, we would have gone far in the construction of 20 more houses for the judges of the FCT,” he added. (Arise News)

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