President Bola Tinubu has urged Justices of the Court of Appeal to remain fair, impartial and steadfast in the discharge of their duties, stressing the importance of delivering justice without fear or favour.
The President made the call on Monday during the inauguration of the new Court of Appeal Abuja Division Building Complex in Dakibiyu, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law and the nation’s judiciary.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu charged the justices to ensure justice is dispensed without regard to status, ethnicity, religion or wealth.
“Nigeria asks only one thing of you: let justice be swift, fair and blind to status, tribe, religion or wealth,” he said.
The newly inaugurated complex features two large courtrooms and eight additional court halls. It is expected to improve access to justice in the Federal Capital Territory by reducing judicial delays and accelerating the hearing of cases.
Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for completing the project within schedule after awarding the contract in May 2024.
“When I saw the condition under which the court was operating, I gave a simple directive: fix it. Today, we have delivered on that promise,” the President said.
He described the project as evidence of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary, promoting local content and supporting indigenous contractors. He also praised Visible Construction Limited for delivering the project to the required standard.
According to Tinubu, the new court complex, alongside ongoing efforts to provide residential accommodation for judicial officers, digitise judicial processes and invest in legal education, reflects the objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda on judicial reform.
In his remarks, Wike disclosed that he closely monitored the project to ensure quality delivery, noting that every deficiency identified during inspection visits was addressed before completion.
He described the facility as a fitting legacy project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal.
The FCT Minister also appealed to residents of the territory to pay their ground rent and tenement rates promptly, warning that failure to meet these obligations could lead to the revocation of land titles.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the inauguration as a major milestone for the judiciary.
He said the Tinubu administration had demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to judicial reforms through improved welfare for judicial officers, including a salary review of more than 300 per cent, special intervention funds for residential accommodation, and sustained investment in judicial infrastructure.
Post comments (0)