FCT minister Nyesom Wike has inaugurated the construction of a new Magistrate Court complex in Jabi District of Abuja.

Speaking at the inauguration in Jabi, Asokoro, and Garki on Tuesday, Mr Wike said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises quick dispensation of justice through the provision of enabling environments for judicial officers.

He described the current challenges faced by judicial officers, including inadequate office spaces and poor living conditions, as embarrassing. He said that it was difficult to achieve quick dispensation of justice without providing an enabling environment for the judiciary.

“Mr president has always believed that you cannot talk about quick dispensation of justice when you don’t provide the enabling environment. He also believes that you can’t talk about fighting corruption where you don’t provide the enabling environment for the judges and magistrates. Where they don’t provide welfare for them, it will be very difficult’.

“I have been going around, and sometimes when you see where our judges and magistrates sit, it’s very, very embarrassing. And then you still want them to deliver justice quickly, as you want them,” said the FCT minister.

Mr. Wike called for the need to provide an enabling environment and good offices for the judiciary sector to enable it to discharge their duties. He reiterated the FCTA’s ambitious plan to address the housing deficit for judicial officers.

He revealed that 20 units of four-bedroom duplexes were currently under construction and would be handed over to the FCT High Court in October. He added that another 30 duplexes would also be provided for them by June 2026.

“Let me assure you that before the end of the first tenure of the president, we would have solved 80 per cent of your accommodation problems in terms of housing,” said the minister.

Mr. Wike said that another project was ongoing near the Presidential Villa and another project in Garki that would accommodate a large number of magistrates.

The chief judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, thanked the FCT minister for supporting the judiciary.

(NAN)