THE FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated the construction of a new Magistrate Court complex in Jabi, citing the current “very, very embarrassing” working and living conditions faced by judicial officers as a major impediment to justice.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Wike stated that the initiative is a direct response to these challenges and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the swift dispensation of justice.
“It is difficult to achieve quick dispensation of justice without the provision of an enabling environment for the judiciary,” Wike said. “The President believes that you cannot talk about fighting corruption where you don’t provide the enabling environment and welfare for judges and magistrates.”
To address the critical housing deficit, the Minister revealed an ambitious plan, announcing that 20 units of four-bedroom duplexes are under construction and will be handed over to the FCT High Court by October 2024. He further pledged that an additional 30 duplexes would be provided by June 2026.
“Before the end of the first tenure of the President, we would have solved 80 per cent of your accommodation problems,” Wike assured.
The Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, represented by Justice Sylvanus Oriji, expressed profound gratitude for the Minister’s “unprecedented” interventions.
He listed several projects, including the new court complexes in Jabi, Asokoro, and Garki, staff quarters for the Nigerian Law School, and the upcoming automation of the FCT High Court with electronic recording devices.
The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Mr. Richard Dauda, provided an overview of the Jabi project, which will sit on a 3,500 square meter plot.
The four-storey complex will include six magistrate chambers, a library, and modern office facilities, and is expected to create employment opportunities during its construction.
The contractor, Poleis Realty, assured the ministry of the project’s timely delivery and adherence to the highest standards.
