Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has declared that he remains committed to fostering a favorable working environment for judicial officials, even after the Court of Appeal overturned his electoral victory. Speaking at an event where President Bola Tinubu, represented by Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, commissioned new Judges Quarters for the Court of Appeal and launched construction for quarters for the Industrial Court and Code of Conduct Tribunal, Wike emphasized that his personal setback did not deter him from prioritizing the needs of the judiciary.
Wike recalled that during his tenure as governor, he ensured the construction of accommodations for judicial officers despite his own election being nullified. He urged state governments to take greater responsibility for such projects, arguing that the federal government cannot single-handedly address all infrastructure deficits. Citing his experience in Rivers State, he noted that before his intervention, residents had to travel to Bayelsa for Industrial Court hearings, with 80 percent of cases originating from Rivers. By building facilities locally, he alleviated this burden.
Reflecting on his encounter with former Court of Appeal President Justice Bulkachuwa, Wike stated: “My election was nullified by the Appeal Court, so ordinarily I would have no reason to assist. But if I withheld support, my people would suffer. I did not wait for the federal government; if I had, it would have taken longer. I challenge other governors to follow suit and not leave everything to the center.”