President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial independence and institutional reforms with the commissioning of a newly completed 10-unit Court of Appeal Judges’ Quarters in Katampe District, Abuja.

Represented by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the President described the project as a strategic investment in the rule of law, judicial welfare and democratic governance.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Tuesday, Tinubu said the housing estate formed part of a series of judicial infrastructure projects being inaugurated to mark the third anniversary of his administration.

According to the President, the project demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to providing the judiciary with the infrastructure and support required to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.

“Today’s event is much more than the unveiling of physical infrastructure; it is a tangible demonstration of the Federal Government’s enduring commitment to the welfare, independence, efficiency and dignity of the judiciary,” he said.

Tinubu noted that the judges’ quarters were delivered as a special intervention project outside the statutory budgetary allocations to the judiciary, adding that improved welfare for judicial officers remains critical to strengthening justice delivery.

“The welfare of judicial officers is a strategic investment in the rule of law. When judges are provided with secure accommodation and conducive working environments, the entire nation benefits,” he stated.

The President also disclosed plans to expand judicial infrastructure within the Katampe district, revealing that additional land had been designated for judges of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Code of Conduct Bureau and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory.

He commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for the successful execution of the project, describing him as diligent and result-oriented.

Tinubu further urged state governments to complement federal efforts by investing in judicial infrastructure and improving welfare for judges within their jurisdictions.

In his remarks, Wike called on governors to support federal judicial institutions located in their states, arguing that such courts primarily serve residents of host states.

Drawing from his experience as former Governor of Rivers State, he recounted how his administration provided infrastructure and accommodation for the National Industrial Court in Port Harcourt to improve access to justice.

Wike dismissed concerns that government support for judicial infrastructure could undermine judicial independence, insisting that improved welfare and working conditions strengthen the judiciary.

President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, described the project as a milestone in efforts to provide a secure and dignified environment for judicial officers.

She noted that quality justice delivery depends not only on courtroom facilities but also on the living conditions of judges, stressing that secure accommodation protects judicial officers from undue influence and enhances the integrity of the judicial process.

Earlier, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, disclosed that the project is part of a larger 40-unit judges’ housing development in Katampe District.

According to him, the estate consists of 10 fully furnished five-bedroom duplexes with detached boys’ quarters, an event centre, recreational facilities, neighbourhood shops, internal road networks, water and electricity infrastructure, standby generators and enhanced security features.

The commissioning comes a day after the inauguration of a new Court of Appeal complex in Abuja, highlighting the administration’s renewed focus on judicial infrastructure and governance reforms.

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled that governors and deputy governors elected under the defunct 1979 Constitution are not entitled to pension benefits under the 1999 Constitution unless such provisions are expressly made by their respective state governments.

The appellate court made the clarification while dismissing an appeal filed by a former governor of the old Borno State, the late Alhaji Umar Mohammed Goni, who served between 1979 and 1983.

Goni had challenged the December 18, 2019 judgment of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), which dismissed his claim for pension and other benefits under the Borno State (Grant of Pension to Governors and Deputy Governors) Law, 2005, as amended in 2009.

In his suit, the former governor argued that he was entitled to a monthly pension for life and other benefits provided under the state law, relying on provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Interpretation Act.

However, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Monday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the NICN and held that the pension law did not apply to governors elected under the 1979 Constitution.

Justice Mohammed Danjuma, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the 1979 Constitution ceased to have effect following the military takeover in 1983 and could not be linked to the constitutional framework established by the 1999 Constitution.

According to the court, the 1999 Constitution ushered in a new democratic order and the Borno State pension law contained no provision extending pension benefits to governors who served under the defunct constitutional arrangement.

Justice Danjuma noted that if the lawmakers intended to include former governors of the old Borno State, the legislation would have expressly stated so.

“The appellant was a governor of the defunct Borno State under the 1979 Constitution, not a governor under the 1999 Constitution or immediately before or after the coming into force of the 1999 Constitution,” the court held.

The appellate court agreed with the National Industrial Court that the Borno State pension law did not have retrospective effect and therefore could not benefit Goni.

The court also upheld preliminary objections raised by the Borno State Government against the appeal.

Justice Danjuma held that although the appeal could survive the death of Goni, who died before the case was concluded, his legal representatives failed to properly substitute him in the proceedings.

The court further ruled that the appeal was incompetent because it was filed outside the legally prescribed period without obtaining leave of court for an extension of time.

According to the judgment, while the National Industrial Court delivered its decision on December 18, 2019, the notice of appeal was not filed until November 13, 2024.

The Court of Appeal consequently dismissed the appeal and affirmed the judgment of the lower court.

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A Lagos-based lawyer, Victor Azubike Awah, has been arraigned before the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, over an alleged ₦27 million land fraud.

Awah, who appeared in court on Wednesday, was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his firm, Sparkan Ives Limited, on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, using forged documents, and issuing a dud cheque.

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences were committed between October 2024 and February 2025 in Lagos. The anti-graft agency accused Awah of obtaining ₦27 million from Mrs. Onwuekwe Chioma Genevieve under the guise of selling a plot of land purportedly available for purchase.

The prosecution alleged that the transaction was fraudulent, stating that Awah acted with intent to deceive the buyer. His actions, the EFCC said, contravened Section 1(1) and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

When the charges were read, Awah pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Prosecution counsel, Mr. A. M. Dambuwa, requested the court to set a trial date and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial.

Awah, who appeared without legal representation, informed the court that he had already filed a bail application on his own behalf.

Justice O. A. Okunuga adjourned the matter to December 17 and 18, 2025, for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial. The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody until the next hearing.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has assured that by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in office, every judge of the FCT High Court will have official accommodation, marking an end to the era of judges living in rented apartments.

Wike gave the assurance on Monday during the flag-off of the design and construction of residences for the Heads of Courts of the FCT. He noted that President Tinubu had directed that the welfare of judicial officers in the capital be treated as a top priority.

“Before the end of Mr President’s first tenure, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in a rented apartment,” Wike declared. “This commitment is specific to judges of the FCT High Court not the Federal High Court or National Industrial Court.”

The initiative, according to the minister, complements ongoing efforts to provide adequate infrastructure for the judiciary. These include the construction of new magistrate courts in Jabi, launched in September 2025, and 40 judges’ quarters in Katampe District, whose foundation was laid in November 2024.

Wike clarified that the new housing policy extends beyond tenure, as the heads of courts including the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judges of the Federal and FCT High Courts, and the Judge of the National Industrial Court will retire with the homes built for them.

“What we are doing today is with the full approval of Mr President. When these heads of courts retire, the properties become theirs. This is a deliberate policy to honour their service and uphold the dignity of the judiciary,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), commended the project as a major boost for judicial independence and institutional integrity.

He said, “Providing secure and befitting accommodation for heads of court enhances their personal security, operational independence, and the institutional dignity of the judiciary. It will also help reduce corruption, as basic welfare needs like housing are already guaranteed.”

Fagbemi thanked President Tinubu and Wike for prioritising the welfare of judicial officers and strengthening the independence of the third arm of government through meaningful infrastructural investment.

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Lagos State has taken a major step in supporting its judicial system, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu commissioning two major projects aimed at enhancing the welfare and efficiency of legal officers in the state.

The first, a newly completed set of residential buildings in Ketu, offers comfortable 3-bedroom apartments for magistrates, a move designed to ease accommodation challenges faced by lower bench officers and reinforce their independence in decision-making.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, speaking at the handover, emphasized the role of magistrates as the public’s frontline access to justice. He stressed that providing decent housing is not merely a welfare gesture, but a strategic investment in justice delivery.

“We are offering a dignified place to live so that these officers can carry out their duties without undue stress or outside interference,” he said.

The housing initiative marks the first of its kind under his administration, aimed specifically at judicial officers and legal counsel from the Ministry of Justice. The governor affirmed the state’s commitment to respecting the independence of the judiciary while also recognizing the interconnectedness of all arms of government.

In a parallel move to enhance legal infrastructure, Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated a dedicated Deputy Sheriff Warehouse in Majidun, Ikorodu. This facility is designed to safely store and manage items seized or held under court orders — a move that will reduce clutter at court premises and ensure that such properties are protected until legal matters are resolved.

With advanced security and cataloguing systems in place, the new facility is expected to streamline case handling, reduce backlogs, and bolster public confidence in legal processes. “This warehouse is about safeguarding the integrity of our justice system and preserving the value of contested assets,” the governor said.

Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba, praised the twin projects, describing them as much-needed interventions. He acknowledged that some magistrates had previously been subjected to eviction notices, which the new housing directly addresses. “This provision ends a long-standing challenge and reflects the administration’s understanding of the realities we face,” he said.

He also noted that the land for the warehouse had been secured years ago but remained undeveloped due to funding constraints, a gap the current administration has now closed.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, added that the projects reflect a deeper respect for rule of law, judicial independence, and the protection of rights. “With this warehouse, we now avoid the previous practice of dumping court-ordered assets in open areas where they deteriorated or went missing. It’s a bold, thoughtful step forward,” he stated.

These initiatives collectively underscore Lagos State’s push to build a more effective, dignified, and resilient justice system, setting an example for how governance can directly support judicial effectiveness through practical infrastructure.

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The Minister gave the charge in Abuja when he received a delegation from the FCT Judiciary, led by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Hon. Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, on a courtesy visit to his office.

While speaking, Wike commended the stability in the FCT Judiciary as well as the cordial relationship between the FCT Administration and the FCT Judiciary, he assured that the FCTA will do its best to increase the tempo of that relationship.

The Minister also pledged the support of the FCT Administration to ensure a successful legal year and assured that the FCT Administration will do its best to improve the welfare of judicial officials.

Read Also: Land racketeering: Wike tasks judiciary on indiscriminate issuance of injunctions

Adding that the fight against corruption could only succeed when a conducive environment is provided for the judiciary, the Minister revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed him to work towards creating the enabling environment for the judiciary to discharge its duties well in the FCT.

He also emphasized that the FCT Administration will work with the judiciary to ameliorate the accommodation problem of Judges in the FCT to ensure that they have a home to retire to at the end of their service.
Reflecting the cordial relationship between the executive and the judiciary during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State, Wike said the government maintained the respect and independence of the judiciary in the interest of good governance.

He therefore assured that the FCT Administration will try to replicate what was done for the Judiciary in Rivers State during his tenure as governor of the state.

“Another thing I want to say is that what we did in Rivers State will be replicated in the FCT. We have to provide accommodation for them so that when they are retiring, they have a home to go to. Nobody will commandeer them with anything. But when you retire as a judicial officer and you have no home to go to, it doesn’t make sense

“Mr. President has told me that I must, as a matter of urgency, liaise with the Chief Judge to see how we can work out this, where Judges of the FCT Judiciary will have a home on retirement.

“Again, whatever you think will improve the welfare of judicial officers in the FCT, do not hesitate to let us know. We are here to do anything to make sure we provide good governance. We will do everything to make the environment conducive so that you can do your work without excuses”.

Speaking on the prerequisite for success in the fight against corruption, the Minister said the environment must be made conducive for those leading the charge to succeed.

“When you want to talk about fighting corruption, you must ask, have you provided a conducive environment for those people who are empowered to fight the corruption, for example, the judiciary. In most cases, most of them don’t even have homes when they retire.

“Fighting corruption will start from the environment in which they are in. In that case, you will now say you have provided things that will make them overlook certain areas. But if you have not provided it, then you don’t talk about fighting corruption.

“So, Mr. President has said he will do anything that will make the judiciary do the work in order to make this country move forward. The renewed hope agenda for him is that so many people have lost confidence. He said nobody should lose confidence. Those things that are not in place will be brought back.”

The Minister also called for the support of the FCT Judiciary in tackling the issue of land racketeering and other sharp practices in the FCT that are militating against the provision of good governance in the FCT.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chief Judge of the FCT, Hon. Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, commended the FCT Minister over his remarkable accomplishments and dedication to public service, including his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of judicial officers in Rivers State.

The Chief Judge assured that the FCT Judiciary will support the FCT Administration within the ambit of the law to bequeath a model city to the citizens of this country.

Present at the visit were the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and other senior management staff of the FCTA.

Read Also: Nigeria @63: Wike Calls for Collective Efforts to Rebuild FCT

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