FALANA THREATENS LEGAL ACTION OVER FG’S LUXURY HOMES FOR JUDGES
Read Time:1 Minute, 47 Second
By; Sunmola Ganiyat
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has threatened to sue the Federal Government over its decision to hand over newly built luxury houses to judges in Abuja’s Katampe district, describing the move as discriminatory and unlawful.
Falana, who spoke in a video shared by NewsCentral on Thursday, criticised the government for providing exclusive housing benefits to judges while neglecting other categories of public servants.
He said he was disturbed after watching the handover ceremony on television, questioning the legal basis for the initiative.
According to him, Nigeria has reached a stage where special privileges granted to top public officials and the wealthy must be challenged.
While acknowledging that judges deserve decent and secure accommodation, Falana argued that similar consideration should be extended to other public servants.
He maintained that the government’s action violates the principle of equal treatment and warned that the matter would soon be tested in court.
Falana cited university lecturers as an example, noting that professors perform essential services but are poorly paid and increasingly lack access to staff housing.
He also criticised the benefits enjoyed by former governors now serving in the National Assembly, alleging that many continue to receive legislative salaries and allowances while retaining housing entitlements in their states and Abuja.
According to him, the situation contrasts sharply with the experience of career civil servants who spend decades in service but retire without comparable benefits.
Falana insisted that the principle of equality before the law must be upheld, stressing that government policies should not favour one class of public officials over others.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration recently completed the construction of 40 judges’ quarters in Katampe under the leadership of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. President Bola Tinubu has already commissioned batches of the houses for judges of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Wike said the houses would be allocated to judges on an owner-occupier basis, subject to the approval of the President.
The project has, however, attracted criticism from some quarters, with critics describing the allocation of the luxury homes as capable of creating the impression of undue influence over the judiciary.
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