Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has kicked against the move by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nyesom Wike to build houses for judges.
Edum News recalls that the minister had in October flagged off the Design and Construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in the Katampe District in the Abuja.
The Minister has since continued with the project regardless of the criticism that greeted it’s flag off.
Reacting to this in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, Falana stated that it is illegal to give gifts to the members of the judiciary, especially judges.
He said, “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory operates like a state governor by virtue of the section 299 of the Constitution. So, he cannot say I am going to build 40 houses, 10 shall go to the federal high court, 10 shall go to judges in the FCT high court and 10 shall go to the court of appeal and supreme court, no.Because you are a minister of the Federal Government like a state governor your budget is limited to the affairs of the FCT.
“So, you cannot as the head of the FCT be dishing out gift of cars, houses to judges in the federal hight court, in the appeal court and the supreme court. Number two, you have cases before these courts, on the theory of equality before the court you cannot be seen to be giving cars or houses to the judges who are going to determine your cases.”
