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Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has defended the government’s support for the judiciary, rejecting claims that providing infrastructure, housing, and welfare for judges amounts to inducement.
Speaking on concerns surrounding government assistance to judicial institutions, Wike repeatedly questioned the criticism, insisting that improving working conditions for judges and courts should not be mistaken for attempts to influence judicial outcomes.
Drawing on his experience as a former governor of Rivers State, Wike described poor conditions in parts of the judiciary, recalling instances in which judicial officers operated in unsuitable environments.
“We have the worst Court of Appeal where people are sitting, when it is raining, they sit on plastic chairs,” he said.
According to Wike, failing to provide decent facilities would ultimately hurt ordinary citizens who rely on the justice system. He argued that governments have a responsibility to create environments where courts can function effectively.
Wike cited examples from his time in office, including interventions involving the Industrial Court and the High Court. He explained that his administration provided facilities to reduce the burden on litigants and judicial processes.
“The last time I used to go to Bayelsa for industrial matters, and 80 per cent of those matters come from Rivers State. I said, no, what do we do? We gave a befitting Industrial Court to stop our people from moving from Rivers State to Bayelsa,” he said.
He also defended upgrades to the Federal High Court, describing its previous condition as unacceptable.
“If you saw the Federal High Court before, you would say, ‘What kind of country is this?’ Wike said.
The FCT minister further defended the provision of accommodation and financial alternatives for judges, maintaining that such measures were administrative necessities rather than political tools. He argued that if judicial support truly influenced judgments, he would not have faced court rulings against him while serving as governor.
He also took aim at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), saying the body must maintain independence and avoid situations that could compromise its critical role.
Wike stressed that political office is temporary and questioned the logic behind seeking influence over institutions through inducement.
