Wike says President Tinubu remains committed to strengthening the Judiciary with improved facilities, housing projects, digital upgrades, and reforms aimed at faster and more efficient justice delivery.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Wike, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to supporting Nigeria’s Judiciary through improved infrastructure, expanded accommodation for judicial officers, and reforms designed to enhance efficiency across court systems.
He made this assurance during a special court session in Abuja marking the formal commencement of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Court of Appeal.
His remarks underscored the administration’s belief that a strong judicial system is essential to good governance, democratic stability, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
Speaking at the ceremony, Wike explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration considers judicial support a priority, not merely in principle but in tangible investments that directly impact the working conditions of judges and court personnel.
According to him, one of the administration’s most urgent interventions has been addressing accommodation challenges faced by judges within the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated that budgetary allocations have already been made for the construction of additional residential houses for judges of the FCT High Court.
This effort, he said, aims to eliminate shortage issues and ensure that every judicial officer has access to decent, secure housing suitable for the demands of their office.
The minister stressed that “a Judiciary cannot perform optimally without an environment that promotes diligence, safety, and professionalism.”
As such, the government is embarking on the construction and upgrading of courtrooms, chambers, and support structures that strengthen the justice system and reduce unnecessary delays linked to infrastructural deficiencies.
He maintained that efficient justice delivery depends heavily on modern workspaces, reliable equipment, and a disciplined administrative framework.
One of the major achievements highlighted by Wike was the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s formal handover of the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the Supreme Court’s land.
This decision, he noted, ended years of hesitation and bureaucratic stagnation that had prevented the apex court from securing undisputed ownership of its land.
He added that the government has started full perimeter fencing of the Supreme Court complex to protect it from encroachment, reinforce security, and give the Judiciary renewed confidence in the stability of its institutions.
The minister described the intervention as “long overdue and essential to safeguarding the nation’s highest temple of justice.”
Beyond the Supreme Court, the government is involved in large-scale infrastructure upgrades benefiting various judicial bodies within the FCT.
These include the ongoing construction of secure, fully equipped residential quarters for Heads of Courts in the FCT, as well as the development of a modern Magistrates’ Court Complex in Jabi District.
The facility, when completed, is expected to expand access to justice for residents, reduce pressure on overstretched magistrates, and improve the speed of court proceedings.
In addition to these, the FCTA is building staff quarters for the Nigerian Law School located in the FCT, and carrying out the design and construction of the new Court of Appeal Abuja Division complex.
The administration is also providing improved residences for Justices of the National Industrial Court (Abuja Division) and the Federal High Court (Abuja Division).
These projects, according to the minister, are part of a broad effort to support judicial officers in fulfilling their duties effectively.
“The administration believes that when judges are provided with secure and comfortable accommodation, they can concentrate fully on their work without the distractions and uncertainties caused by inadequate living conditions,” he stated.
Looking ahead to the new legal year, Wike said the FCT Administration is committed to consolidating achievements and expanding its support where it is most needed.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, he emphasized that the FCTA will push aggressively for the swift completion of the new quarters for Heads of Courts and the Jabi Magistrates’ Court Complex.
These projects, he said, must be delivered promptly to ensure they begin serving judicial officers and the public within the shortest possible time.
Another major area of focus for the new legal year is digitisation. The minister announced that the FCTA will strengthen collaboration with all FCT-based courts, including the Court of Appeal, to advance the digital transformation of court registries and processes.
This initiative aims to reduce dependence on manual documentation, eliminate unnecessary delays, improve transparency, and accelerate case management.
The digital reforms, he added, reflect global best practices and are essential to modernising Nigeria’s justice system.
Emphasizing the centrality of justice in democratic governance, Wike warned that justice must never be compromised under any circumstance.
He said that judicial integrity is the bedrock of public confidence, and that all stakeholders—judges, legal practitioners, government agencies, and citizens—must work together to uphold the system.
He expressed confidence that the 2025/2026 Legal Year would usher in a new period of stability, wisdom, and enhanced performance for the Court of Appeal and the broader Judiciary.
Wike expressed optimism that the renewed commitment of the Federal Government, combined with infrastructural improvements and digital reforms, will significantly strengthen the Judiciary and ensure access to justice for all Nigerians.
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