ABUJA: The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday flagged off the construction of a new block of magistrate courts in Jabi District, assuring that the administration is committed to providing judges and magistrates with modern facilities, safe accommodation and a conducive work environment.
Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony, Wike stressed that the fight against corruption and the delivery of speedy justice cannot be achieved if judicial officers are left to work under poor conditions.
“You cannot talk about fighting corruption if you do not provide the right environment for judges and magistrates, or take care of their welfare. Sometimes, the conditions under which they sit are very embarrassing, yet we still expect them to deliver justice quickly”, he said.
He decried a situation where some judges are compelled to live in rented apartments, occasionally facing harassment from landlords or living side by side with criminal suspects whose cases they adjudicate.
“That cannot continue. We must guarantee their safety and dignity. Under the current administration, the accommodation challenges facing our judiciary will be addressed,” Wike assured.
The minister noted that the Federal Capital Development Authority FCDA has always been responsible for constructing public institutions in Abuja, from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to the Supreme Court, stressing that providing courts and accommodation for judicial officers is part of its statutory duty.
Beyond physical infrastructure, Wike announced that the FCT Administration is introducing an IT-based court management system to phase out tedious manual record-keeping and make judicial proceedings more efficient.
Wike, who praised the judiciary for its role in revenue generation in the FCT, urged judges and magistrates not to relent in their support for governance and justice delivery.
“Our judges are human. They face daily challenges – from where they live to the long hours in traffic – and yet they still deliver justice. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, these difficulties will become a thing of the past,” he said.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, explained that the Jabi project is one of three new magistrate court complexes approved by the administration, with others sited in Garki and Asokoro Districts.
He said the new courts would improve access to justice across the rapidly expanding city, decongest overburdened courts and enhance the efficiency of legal service delivery.
“As Abuja continues to grow in population and urban development, these additional courts will help ensure the timely resolution of civil and criminal matters, uphold public order, and support economic development by strengthening the rule of law,” Dauda noted.
The contract scope for the Jabi facility includes courtrooms, magistrates’ chambers, a conference room, library, office spaces and supporting facilities such as a gatehouse, generator house, perimeter fencing, external works and full furnishing.
The FCDA boss added that the project would create jobs during construction and, upon completion, provide a functional judicial facility that meets national standards.
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