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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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for the immediate suspension of the Tax Reform Act, citing serious controversies surrounding its passage and warning that the issues threaten Nigeria’s democratic and legislative integrity.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, the NBA expressed deep concern over what it described as procedural irregularities in the enactment of the tax laws, stressing that transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance must underpin all legislative processes.

According to the association, the circumstances surrounding the passage of the Tax Reform Act have raised questions about the sanctity of lawmaking in a constitutional democracy, especially for legislation with wide-ranging economic and social consequences.

Call for Independent Investigation

The NBA urged authorities to institute a comprehensive, open, and transparent investigation into how the Tax Reform Act was enacted, saying such a step is necessary to restore public trust and confidence in Nigeria’s legislative system.

Pending the outcome of the investigation, the association insisted that all plans to implement the law should be suspended immediately.

Economic and Investor Risks

The lawyers’ body warned that ongoing legal and policy uncertainty surrounding the tax reforms poses significant risks to Nigeria’s economy. According to the NBA, the situation could unsettle the business environment, weaken investor confidence, and create unpredictability for individuals, businesses, and institutions expected to comply with the law.

“Legal and policy uncertainty of this magnitude is inimical to economic stability and should have no place in a system governed by the rule of law,” the statement said.

Rule of Law Must Be Upheld

The NBA stressed that Nigeria’s constitutional democracy requires laws to emerge from processes that are transparent, accountable, and beyond reproach, warning that any deviation undermines public confidence and weakens the foundations of lawful governance.

The association therefore called on relevant authorities to act swiftly to address the controversy surrounding the Tax Reform Act in the interest of constitutional order, economic stability, and the preservation of the rule of law.

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Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has accused the Lagos State Government of demolishing over 100 properties in Oworonsoki despite a valid court order halting the exercise.

Justice Adegboyega Balogun of the Lagos High Court had last Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining the government, its agents, and contractors from further demolitions or creating third-party interests in parts of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni CDA, including Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street.

Despite the ruling, Falana said the government went ahead with the demolitions, displacing several families. “In flagrant breach of the subsisting order, the defendants mobilised over 50 armed policemen and thugs, who fired teargas through the night to disperse protesters before commencing a fresh demolition,” he stated.

He described the action as a “sad reminder” of the 1986 Supreme Court case Military Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu, where the court condemned government defiance of judicial authority even under military rule.

Quoting the late Justice Obaseki, Falana reiterated that no government should resort to self-help when a matter is before a court, saying, “In a nation governed by the rule of law, self-help by force must be abandoned.”

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Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that commercial disputes in Nigeria can take nearly 13 years from filing to a final Supreme Court judgment, a delay he says threatens investment and economic growth. Speaking at the AELEX law firm’s 19th annual lecture in Lagos, Osinbajo highlighted how judicial inefficiencies, policy inconsistency, and weak enforcement have hurt investor confidence.

Citing data from the Justice Research Institute, he noted that cases spend over four years in the High Court, three years in the Court of Appeal, and more than six years at the Supreme Court. He recalled how a UK Court of Appeal once described Nigeria’s legal delays as “catastrophic.” Osinbajo also recounted how landlords in Lagos turned away from rental property investments due to endless tenant disputes and a slow judicial process.

To tackle this, he suggested reforms including digitization of courts, stronger sanctions for delays, creation of commercial courts, and limiting judicial interference in arbitration. He also called for changes to laws that hinder enforcement of judgments against government agencies.

Osinbajo further stressed that inconsistent government policies discourage both local and foreign investors. He urged cross-party collaboration to ensure policy continuity and stakeholder engagement before major reforms.

At the heart of his message was a push for people-centered governance. With nearly 70% of Nigerians under 25, he warned that failure to address youth welfare and justice would threaten national stability. He concluded by calling for unity across the executive, legislature, judiciary, and private sector to deliver meaningful reform.

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Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the demolition of shops and private properties by government authorities across various parts of the country, describing the actions as “unjustifiable,” “inhumane,” and emblematic of a governance approach that lacks empathy in a time of deepening economic hardship.

In a statement issued Monday via his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, the former Anambra State governor condemned what he termed the “willful destruction” of citizens’ livelihoods without due notice or adherence to legal process. Obi warned that such actions not only violate the rights of affected individuals but also threaten Nigeria’s broader economic and social stability.

“The recent demolition of citizens’ structures and the destruction of their goods and merchandise remain condemnable,” he stated. “At a time when the government is supposed to be lifting citizens out of poverty, it is instead plunging them deeper into hardship.”

Obi noted that many of the demolished shops and buildings housed merchandise and assets worth billions of naira, representing years of toil, entrepreneurship, and life savings for countless Nigerians. He questioned the rationale behind such demolitions, asking whether they serve any genuine public interest or merely reflect “arbitrary and disproportionate exercises of power.”

Without mincing words, Obi placed responsibility on the current administration’s leadership approach, arguing that within just 29 months, the government has exacerbated poverty and insecurity, instead of alleviating them. “These demolitions destroy livelihoods, undermine businesses, and threaten the economic security of hardworking citizens,” he said.

He urged government officials at all levels to adopt policies guided by empathy, rule of law, and long-term economic thinking, rather than reactive enforcement actions that displace vulnerable populations. “Every citizen has the right to build a life through honest work, and that right must never be trampled,” he wrote.

Obi further cautioned that such actions send damaging signals to both local and international investors, who may perceive Nigeria as an unpredictable environment where property rights are not guaranteed. “If we fail to stand against such injustices, we risk undermining the very foundations of economic growth and social stability,” he concluded.

The remarks come amid growing public outcry over widespread demolitions in major cities, often linked to urban renewal or land disputes, but which critics argue are carried out without transparency, adequate compensation, or proper legal procedures.

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