President Bola Tinubu has commissioned the newly constructed Court of Appeal, Abuja Division Building Complex in Dakibiyu, Abuja, describing the edifice as a symbol of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law and restoring the dignity of key democratic institutions.
The President, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, said the project reflects the federal government’s determination to provide a conducive environment for the judiciary to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Monday, Tinubu noted that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had for years operated from inadequate temporary facilities, a situation he described as unacceptable for an institution central to the administration of justice.
He said the project was more than a physical structure, describing it as a symbol of the government’s resolve to restore the dignity of public institutions and ensure that the rule of law remains the bedrock of Nigeria’s democracy.
“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.
“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 commended the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for delivering the project within record time, describing him as “Mr Project.”
“When I appointed you as Minister of the FCT, I knew you would not sleep. You promised 16 months. You delivered in record time. No excuses. No variation. Just results,” the President stated.
According to him, the complex, equipped with two large courtrooms and eight smaller ones, would significantly improve judicial efficiency, speed up case resolution, enhance access to justice, and help reduce congestion in correctional facilities.
He noted that the facility aligns with the administration’s broader judicial reform agenda, which includes increasing funding for the judiciary, digitising judicial processes, constructing additional courts and residences for judicial officers, and supporting legal education.
Tinubu urged the Court of Appeal justices to continue dispensing justice fairly and without prejudice.
“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 commoner feel that this Court is truly his last hope,” he said.
Earlier, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, disclosed that the project was conceived following concerns raised by the President of the Court of Appeal about the poor state of the division’s former facility.
He revealed that after informing President Tinubu about the situation, the President immediately directed the FCT Administration to construct a befitting court complex and provide quality accommodation for judicial officers.
“Mr President said we must not only provide a befitting Court of Appeal complex but also begin building residences for judges and justices. He insisted that whatever project we start must be completed and not abandoned,” Wike said.
The minister explained that the intervention had expanded beyond the Court of Appeal to include housing projects for judges of the Federal High Court, the FCT High Court, and the National Industrial Court, as well as members of the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
According to him, judicial independence goes beyond constitutional provisions and must be backed by adequate infrastructure and welfare.
“You cannot talk about the independence of the judiciary when judicial officers do not have a fitting environment to work and live. If we truly believe in judicial independence, then we must provide the infrastructure that supports it,” he stated.
Wike disclosed that the court complex was delivered under strict supervision, noting that he personally visited the site more than 20 times to ensure quality and timely completion.
He added that the construction of the facility also necessitated the development of access roads and supporting infrastructure, which have since triggered rapid growth and investment in the Dakibiyu area.
The minister also called on residents of the FCT to support ongoing development efforts by paying their ground rents and other statutory charges.
“Development requires funding. We cannot continue to build infrastructure if citizens fail to fulfil their obligations. Those who have not paid their ground rents should do so because the government needs resources to provide public infrastructure,” he warned.
In his remarks, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), described the commissioning of the complex as a historic moment for Nigeria’s judiciary and democracy, noting that it coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Court of Appeal.
Fagbemi said the facility was a fitting golden jubilee gift to the appellate Court and evidence of the Tinubu administration’s unprecedented support for the judiciary.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that no administration in Nigeria’s recent history has provided the level of support to the judiciary that we have witnessed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
The Attorney-General highlighted several interventions undertaken by the administration, including a historic review of judicial officers’ remuneration, an increase of over 300 per cent; enhanced budgetary allocations; judicial infrastructure development; and the appointment of judges to ensure a full complement of Supreme Court justices.
He noted that the government’s support had strengthened institutional capacity, improved judicial efficiency and enhanced access to justice across the country.
According to him, the completion of the Court of Appeal complex, alongside residential quarters for judges and other judicial infrastructure projects, demonstrates the administration’s commitment to safeguarding judicial independence through sustained investment.
Fagbemi further attributed the President’s support for the judiciary to his longstanding belief in strong institutions and democratic governance, recalling that, as governor of Lagos State, Tinubu implemented reforms that transformed the state’s justice sector.
