Judges' quarters built by President Bola Tinubu led APC administration
African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized the All Progressives Congress (APC) for celebrating the commissioning of residential quarters for judges, describing the action as inappropriate and capable of undermining public confidence in the independence of Nigeria’s judiciary.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party argued that while judges are entitled to decent welfare packages, including housing and security, such provisions should not be portrayed as personal achievements of political office holders.
“Let it be clearly understood: judges deserve decent accommodation, adequate security and proper welfare. However; these must not be packaged as personal achievement of government officials or as favours from politicians. They are constitutional obligations of government funded by the Nigerian taxpayer,” the statement read.
The ADC maintained that the controversy was not about the construction of the judges’ quarters but the manner in which the project was being celebrated by the ruling party.
According to the party, neither President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nor the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, should be accorded personal praise for projects financed with public funds.
“The issue is therefore not the construction of the quarters in itself, but the dangerous impression of the Executive arm of government presenting itself as the benefactor of another constitutionally independent arm. Neither President Bola Tinubu nor Minister Nyesom Wike is therefore entitled to personal acclaim for discharging responsibilities financed from public funds,” the ADC stated.
The party further argued that the APC’s celebration of the project creates the impression that the welfare of judges depends on the goodwill of political leaders rather than constitutional provisions.
“What the APC has done, by awarding personal acclaim to both the President and his minister for building houses for judges is to create the impression that the welfare of judges is subject to the whims and caprice of government officials or to executive benevolence,” it said.
The ADC warned that in any constitutional democracy founded on the principle of separation of powers, the judiciary must never be perceived as being indebted to political actors whose actions could eventually come before the courts for adjudication.
The opposition party also expressed concern over what it described as attempts by the APC to portray President Tinubu and Wike as benefactors of the judiciary.
“What makes this development particularly troubling is the APC’s attempt to glorify President Tinubu and Minister Wike as patrons of the Judiciary. This action alone creates the unmistakable appearance that judicial welfare is dependent on executive benevolence rather than constitutional entitlement.”
The statement added that such actions could reinforce existing public perceptions that the executive arm exerts undue influence over the judiciary.
“This is particularly disturbing given the widespread perception that the President and this particular minister, Wike already wield undue influence over the judiciary. The statement by the ruling party celebrating the duo can only give further credence to this belief. Afterall, he who pays the piper dictates the tune.”
The ADC also dismissed the APC’s claim that the housing project would strengthen judicial independence, describing the argument as contradictory.
“It is noteworthy that the APC attempted to portray the project as part of government efforts to strengthen judicial independence. This is an Orwellian irony. Judicial independence is not achieved by the number of buildings commissioned by politicians. Rather, it is measured by institutional autonomy, financial independence, security of tenure, freedom from political pressure and the confidence of citizens that judges are accountable only to the Constitution and the law.”
The party argued that public officials should exercise caution in matters involving the judiciary, particularly in a political environment where courts frequently determine election petitions and constitutional disputes.
The ADC accused the ruling party of turning a public institution into a tool for political image-making, insisting that such actions could weaken public trust in the neutrality of the courts.
“The Judiciary belongs to the Nigerian people not to the APC, not to President Tinubu, and certainly not to any minister of government. The independence of the courts is too important to be sacrificed on the altar of political vanity and partisan self-congratulation,” the statement added.
The party further urged members of the judiciary to be mindful of the ethical implications of their relationship with the executive arm of government.
According to the ADC, public confidence in the judiciary can only be restored when judges avoid situations that may create the perception that they are beholden to political leaders rather than the law.
“The public can only begin to trust in the courts again when judges stop putting themselves in a position that makes the people believe that they are beholden to a few individuals and not the law itself,” the party said.
