My Election Was Nullified, But I Refused To Fight Judiciary – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on state governments across Nigeria to take a more active role in supporting the judiciary by providing facilities and infrastructure needed for effective administration of justice.

Naija News reports that Wike made the call during the commissioning of new residential quarters for judges of the Court of Appeal and the commencement of construction of housing projects for judges of the National Industrial Court and members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Abuja.

Speaking at the ceremony, Wike said state governments should not leave the responsibility of providing support for courts entirely to the Federal Government.

According to him, courts located in different states serve the people of those states directly, making it necessary for governors to contribute to their development and welfare.

The former Rivers State governor recalled that while he was in office, he took steps to improve judicial infrastructure in his state.

He explained that many cases involving Rivers residents were being heard at the National Industrial Court in Bayelsa State because there was no suitable facility in Rivers.

To address the problem, he approached the leadership of the court and offered to provide the required infrastructure.

The state government subsequently constructed the needed facilities and accommodation, allowing residents to access the court within Rivers State instead of travelling to Bayelsa.

Wike also recounted a period when the Court of Appeal nullified his election victory.

Despite the setback, he said he continued to provide support for judicial officers because the welfare of the people remained his priority.

He said: “When I was governor, we used to go to Bayelsa State for Industrial Court and 80 percent of the cases came from Rivers.

“So I said why are we going to Bayelsa, I met the then-President of Industrial Court, why do we go to Bayelsa and he said the state was not willing but I said ‘I’m willing, give me the designs and we built for them, provided accomodations for them and today our people no longer go to Bayelsa to have there cases.

“Justice Bulkachuwa was the president of the Court of Appeal and my election was nullified, so ordinary I will not agree to do anything but whose going to lose? My people in the state will lose.

“Look at the residences of the Justices, so I didn’t wait for the Federal Government, if I had waited for the Federal Government it would take a longer time. So I challenge states not to leave everything to the Federal government.”