President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary and deepening democratic governance as he commissioned the new Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex in Dakibiyu, Abuja.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President described the world-class judicial edifice as a symbol of the Renewed Hope Agenda and a demonstration of government’s resolve to provide the judiciary with the infrastructure needed to deliver justice effectively and independently.
“This is not just a building. This is a statement. A statement that under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the rule of law will have a befitting home,” Tinubu declared.
The President noted that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had operated for years from a cramped and temporary facility, a situation he described as unacceptable for an institution central to the administration of justice.
“A nation that seeks justice must respect the temple of justice. When I visited and saw the condition, I gave a simple instruction: fix it. Today, we have fixed it,” he said.
Tinubu praised the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, for delivering the project within the stipulated timeline, describing him as “Mr. Project.”
“When I appointed you as the Minister of the FCT, I knew you would not sleep. You took the assignment to deliver this project in May 2024. By July, contractors were on site. You promised 16 months. You delivered in record time. No excuses. No variation. Just results. Nigerians can see the difference,” he said.
The President said the facility, equipped with two large courtrooms, eight smaller courtrooms and modern judicial infrastructure, would accelerate the dispensation of justice, reduce case backlogs and strengthen the rule of law.
“This is how you honour the judiciary. This is how you strengthen democracy,” he added.
According to him, the project aligns with the administration’s commitment to judicial reforms, increased funding for the judiciary and efforts to create a just and rule-based society.
He further commended the FCT Administration for constructing additional courts, building residences for judicial officers, digitising judicial processes and supporting legal education.
Addressing justices of the Court of Appeal, Tinubu acknowledged the enormous responsibilities they bear, particularly in handling election petitions and constitutional matters.
“You deserve an environment that matches the weight of your responsibility. This complex is not a favour. It is your right. And we will do more,” he assured.
The President also lauded Messrs Visible Construction Limited for completing the project, saying the achievement demonstrated the capacity of indigenous firms to execute world-class projects efficiently.
“This magnificent edifice shows that local companies have the capacity to deliver high-quality projects on time. This is the Nigeria we are building,” he stated.
He urged judicial officers to ensure that justice remains swift, fair and impartial.
“Nigeria asks one thing of you: let justice be swift. Let it be fair. Let it be blind to status, tribe or purse. Let the common man feel that this court is truly his last hope,” he said.
Earlier, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN), described the commissioning as a historic milestone for the Nigerian judiciary and a fitting gift to mark the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal.
“It is not merely the unveiling of a significant judicial edifice. It is a powerful statement of this administration’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law, judicial independence and the strengthening of institutions that safeguard our constitutional democracy,” he said.
Fagbemi said the Tinubu administration had undertaken unprecedented interventions in the judiciary, including a more than 300 per cent increase in the remuneration and welfare package of judicial officers, the first major upward review in decades.
“Indeed, no administration in Nigeria’s recent history has provided the level of support to the judiciary that we have witnessed under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
According to him, beyond improved welfare, the administration had embarked on one of the most ambitious judicial infrastructure programmes in the nation’s history, including the construction of judicial residences and court facilities across the Federal Capital Territory.
He also highlighted efforts to strengthen judicial manpower through the appointment and confirmation of qualified judicial officers, which ensured that the Supreme Court attained its full constitutional complement of justices.
In his remarks, FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike said the Court of Appeal complex formed part of a broader intervention aimed at guaranteeing the independence and efficiency of the judiciary.
Wike revealed that President Tinubu had directed the FCT Administration not only to provide a befitting court complex but also to build quality residences for judges and justices.
“Mr. President was touched when I informed him of the condition. He said we must not only provide a befitting complex but also provide decent accommodation for judicial officers,” Wike said.
He disclosed that residential quarters for Court of Appeal justices, Federal High Court judges and FCT High Court judges had either been completed or were nearing completion, while similar projects for the National Industrial Court and members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal would soon commence.
The minister maintained that judicial independence could not be achieved without adequate infrastructure and conducive working conditions.
“You cannot talk about the independence of the judiciary when the judiciary does not have a fitting environment where they can carry out their functions,” he said.
Wike also used the occasion to urge Abuja residents to fulfil their civic obligations, particularly the payment of ground rents and tenement rates, stressing that public infrastructure projects depended on internally generated revenues.
“Development means funding. You cannot have development when you have no funds. If you have not paid your ground rent, consider that the land will no longer belong to you,” he warned.
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, described the new complex as a transformative development that would significantly improve the administration of justice.
She noted that the Abuja Division had previously operated with only two courtrooms and inadequate office space despite handling one of the heaviest caseloads in the country.
“The impact of the newly constructed court complex on the administration of justice cannot be overstated. The physical environment in which justice is delivered is not a secondary concern. Rather, it is a decisive factor that strongly affects the quality, speed and public confidence in judicial outcomes,” she said.
Justice Dongban-Mensem explained that the shortage of courtrooms often compelled the Court of Appeal to borrow facilities from sister courts, including the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, FCT High Court and Customary Court of Appeal.
“I am happy to say that from today, they are relieved of that burden,” she added.
The Court of Appeal complex was commissioned as part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and the golden jubilee celebration of the Court of Appeal, underscoring what government officials described as a renewed commitment to judicial reform, institutional strengthening and improved access to justice for Nigerians.
The Minister of State for the FCT expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and commitment to strengthening the judiciary through strategic infrastructure investments.
She also commended Barr. Nyesom Wike for delivering transformative projects across the Federal Capital Territory and thanked members of the judiciary, legislature, media and other stakeholders for their support.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Visible Construction Limited, Mr. Olalekan Adebiyi, said the project underscored the capacity of indigenous firms to deliver critical national infrastructure.
He described the complex as a significant contribution to improving the working environment of judicial officers and commended President Tinubu and Barr. Nyesom Wike for their leadership and support in ensuring the successful completion of the project.
The commissioning of the Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex formed part of activities marking the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration and the golden jubilee of the Court of Appeal, highlighting what officials described as a renewed commitment to judicial reform, institutional strengthening and improved access to justice for Nigerians
