Wike under fire over car, house gifts to judges

Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has criticized Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for giving houses and cars to judges, deeming it inappropriate.

In October, Wike launched the design and construction of 40 judges’ quarters in the Katampe District, Abuja—a move that has sparked controversy, with many calling it unethical.

During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Falana argued that such actions by the executive compromise judicial independence.

“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory operates like a state governor by virtue of Section 299 of the Constitution,” Falana explained. “As such, he cannot simply allocate 40 houses—10 to the federal high court, 10 to judges in the FCT high court, and 10 to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

Falana further noted that Wike, as a government minister, should restrict his budget to FCT-related affairs. “You cannot, as head of the FCT, be giving gifts of cars and houses to judges in courts where you may have cases. This breaches the principle of equality before the court.”

The senior lawyer emphasized that the Constitution provides financial autonomy for the judiciary, allowing it to manage its own budget and thus eliminate the need for reliance on executive gifts.

Falana also criticized Wike’s demolition of private properties in the FCT, describing it as a “primitive” practice and a violation of due process. He stated that, under the Urban and Regional Planning Act in the FCT, property disputes should go through specific procedural channels: “In the FCT, if a property has breached the law, the case must first go to the Urban and Regional Planning Board. Property owners can appeal to the Urban and Regional Tribunal, and if necessary, the High Court may issue a demolition order.”