The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has described the commissioning of residential quarters for judges as a shameless, unethical and inappropriate spectacle that further erodes public confidence in the independence of the judiciary.
ADC in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, said though it is not against decent accommodation, adequate security and proper welfare of Nigeria judges, but the quarters “must not be packaged as personal achievement of government officials or as favours from politicians.”
It stated that the quarters should be seen as constitutional obligations of government funded by the Nigerian taxpayer.
The party noted that it is dangerous for the executiveve arm of government to present itself as the benefactor of another constitutionally independent arm.
According to the ADC, neither President Bola Tinubu nor Minister of Federal Capital, Nyesom Wike, is entitled to acclaim for discharging responsibilities to finance the quarters from public funds.
“What the APC has done, by awarding personal acclaim to both the president and his minister for building houses for judges is to create the impression that the welfare of judges is subject to the whims and caprice of government officials or to executive benevolence,” ADC stated.
The party noted that in every constitutional democracy governed by the principle of separation of powers, the judiciary should not be placed in a position where its welfare could “be publicly portrayed as a favour granted by political actors whose actions and interests may ultimately come before the courts.”
It accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of attempt to glorify President Tinubu and Minister Wike as patrons of the judiciary.
This action, ADC stated, created the impression that judicial welfare is dependent on executive benevolence rather than constitutional entitlement.
“It sends the wrong signal to Nigerians and inevitably raises legitimate concerns about the proper boundaries between the executive and the judiciary,” it said.
ADC said it is disturbing because of the widespread perception that President Tinubu and Minister Wike, have already wielded undue influence over the judiciary.
“The statement by the ruling party celebrating the duo can only give further credence to this belief. Afterall, he who pays the piper dictates the tune,” ADC stated.
The party accused he APC of attempt to portray the project as part of government efforts to strengthen judicial independence.
“This is an Orwellian irony. Judicial independence is not achieved by the number of buildings commissioned by politicians.
“Rather, it is measured by institutional autonomy, financial independence, security of tenure, freedom from political pressure and the confidence of citizens that judges are accountable only to the Constitution and the law,” ADC said.
The party viewed the alleged partisan commissioning of judiciary quarters as “a shameless assault on the spirit of separation of powers and an affront to the constitutional ideal of an independent judiciary.”
It advised that public institutions must never be transformed into monuments of political patronage or instruments for cultivating judicial gratitude, pointing out that the judiciary belongs to the Nigerian people not to the APC or President Tinubu, and l not to any minister of government.
“The independence of the courts is too important to be sacrificed on the altar of political vanity and partisan self-congratulation,” ADC warned.
The party called on the judiciary to be wary of the ethical implications of its relationship with the government.
“Already, the Nigerian judiciary suffers a massive trust deficit.
“The public can only begin to trust in the courts again when judges stop putting themselves in a position that makes the people believe that they are beholden to a few individuals and not the law itself,” the party noted.
