Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has faulted the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over the gift of houses and cars to judges.
OsunDailyNG recalls that Wike had in October flagged off the Design and Construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in the Katampe District in the nation’s capital, Abuja, which has generated controversy, with many arguing that it is unethical.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Falana argued that it is wrong for the executive to give gifts to the members of the judiciary, especially judges.
According to Falana, it is the reason the autonomy of the judiciary has been constitutionalised, stressing that the judges have no business going to the executive to buy them cars and houses.
He maintained that the Constitution granted financial autonomy to the judiciary, which gave it the authority to manage its budget.
He said, “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory operates like a state governor by virtue of the section 299 of the Constitution. So, he cannot say I am going to build 40 houses, 10 shall go to the federal high court, 10 shall go to judges in the FCT high court and 10 shall go to the court of appeal and supreme court, no.
“Because you are a minister of the Federal Government like a state governor your budget is limited to the affairs of the FCT. So, you cannot as the head of the FCT be dishing out gift of cars, houses to judges in the federal hight court, in the appeal court and the supreme court.
“Number two, you have cases before these courts, on the theory of equality before the court you cannot be seen to be giving cars or houses to the judges who are going to determine your cases.”
Meanwhile, Nyesom Wike has refuted allegations that the construction of homes for judges in Abuja is intended to influence them for political purposes.
Speaking during a media chat on Wednesday, Wike clarified that the housing project is not his personal initiative but part of a welfare package designed by President Bola Tinubu to support judicial independence.
Wike insisted that he is simply fulfilling his role by implementing an already approved project.
