President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don talk say judiciary independence no fit work well if judges no get good working place. He tok dis wen he commission new Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex for Dakibiyu, Abuja on Monday.
Tinubu wey Vice President Kashim Shettima represent for event, say di new building na symbol of im administration commitment to rule of law. According to am, di project show say Federal Government dey ready to strengthen judiciary under Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I stand here today for Dakibiyu to commission dis Court of Appeal building. Dis no be just building. Dis na statement. Statement say under Renewed Hope Agenda, rule of law go get fine home,” Tinubu yarn.
He recall say di Abuja Division of Court of Appeal don dey use cramped and temporary place for years. He tok say dat one no acceptable for institution wey dey handle justice. “A nation wey want justice must respect temple of justice. Wen I visit and see di condition, I give simple instruction: fix am. Today, we don fix am,” he add.
President commend Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for delivering di project on time. He call Wike “Mr. Project.” According to Tinubu, di minister show exceptional commitment afta receive di assignment for May 2024, mobilise contractors within two months, and finish project without cost increase.
Tinubu note say di world-class facility get two big courtrooms and eight smaller ones. E go help speed up justice, reduce case backlogs, and improve access to justice for FCT residents. He say di project align with im administration agenda of judicial reforms, increased funding, digitisation of court processes, and better accommodation for judicial officers.
He assure judges say government go continue invest for di sector so dat courts fit meet modern demands. “My Lords, you serve dis nation under immense pressure. Di Abuja Division carry heavy docket. From election petitions to constitutional matters, di eyes of Nigeria dey on you. You deserve environment wey match di weight of your responsibility. Dis complex no be favour. E be your right. And we go do more,” Tinubu tok.
Earlier, Attorney-General of di Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), describe di commissioning as historic milestone for Nigerian judiciary and democracy. He say di project, wey coincide with 50th anniversary of Court of Appeal, represent one of several interventions by Tinubu administration to strengthen judicial independence.
Fagbemi argue say no administration for recent history don give di level of support wey judiciary dey enjoy now. He mention over 300% increase for remuneration and welfare of judicial officers, expansion of judicial infrastructure, and appointment of judges to fill vacancies for Supreme Court. “Dis support don be comprehensive, deliberate and transformational, covering judicial welfare, infrastructure, institutional capacity and judicial manpower,” he yarn.
According to am, di interventions don enhance capacity of courts to manage caseloads, improve working conditions for judges, and boost public confidence for justice system.
For im remarks, Wike stress say judicial independence no fit talk without quality infrastructure. “You no fit talk about independence of judiciary wen judiciary no get fitting environment to carry out dia functions. How you talk about independence wen somebody no fit comfortably carry out im duties?”
Di minister disclose say FCT Administration don embark on ambitious programme to provide residential accommodation for judges and justices of various courts for di territory, including Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, and FCT High Court. He reveal say residences for Court of Appeal justices and Federal High Court judges don complete, while additional housing for Industrial Court judges and Code of Conduct Tribunal members go soon start.
Wike also highlight di growing scale of infrastructure delivery under Tinubu. He note say FCT don expand im project commissioning programme from nine days for President first anniversary for 2024 to 31 days for di third year. He commend indigenous contractor, Visible Construction Limited, for delivering di project on schedule, and urge FCT residents to pay ground rents and other charges to sustain development.
Di newly commissioned Court of Appeal Abuja Division Complex go significantly improve judicial operations for di nation capital and strengthen administration of justice for Nigeria.
