The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has attributed judicial corruption to undue influence exerted by the executive branch on the judiciary.
HURIWA said this while citing a recent development where the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced plans to build 40 houses for justices of the Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, and other senior judicial officers.
DAILY POST reports that Wike revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the construction of the houses, which includes retirement homes for the Chief Judges of the Federal High Court, FCT, and the President of the Court of Appeal.
HURIWA condemned this move, labeling it a blatant example of the executive’s political capture of the judiciary.
“This is a dangerous precedent. When judges are gifted lands and houses by the executive, a conflict of interest compromises their independence. The allocation of Abuja lands as political patronage to judges is a trap designed to ensure their loyalty to the executive,” HURIWA warned in a statement signed by Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.
HURIWA called on the National Assembly to urgently pass legislation prohibiting judges from receiving such perks from the executive
