Afam Osigwe, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has issued a strong warning against judges accepting gifts from governors or members of the executive arm of government.
He described such gestures as unconstitutional and damaging to the independence of the judiciary.
Osigwe made these remarks on Thursday while speaking on Politics HQ, a popular programme aired on News Central TV.
His comments reignited debates surrounding the relationship between the executive and judicial arms of government.
Months earlier, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, announced the construction of housing quarters for judges in Abuja.
This announcement, made in September, sparked a wave of public criticism and raised questions about the intentions behind the project.
The housing project involves the construction of 40 houses for judges, distributed across different courts in Abuja.
According to Wike, 20 of the houses will go to judges of the FCT High Court, 10 to the judges of the Federal High Court, and another 10 to judges of the Court of Appeal.
While Wike defended the initiative, claiming it was part of President Bola Tinubu’s welfare plans for judicial officers, critics remain skeptical.
Osigwe’s recent statements have added fuel to this skepticism.
He argued that the judiciary’s autonomy is compromised when the executive directly intervenes in providing resources or benefits.
“The executive arm has no business directly providing for the judiciary,” Osigwe said emphatically during the programme.
He stressed that such actions, though often presented as goodwill, could have hidden agendas aimed at undermining judicial independence.
“In any situation where a governor gathers judges or brings a chief judge to display to the public that he’s giving them cars or houses, as if he’s doing them a favour, it is condemnable,” Osigwe declared.
He described such acts as “unconstitutional,” “demeaning,” and a violation of judicial autonomy.
Osigwe did not stop there.
He challenged the judiciary to reject what he termed as “acts of benevolence” from the executive.
“Judges must not condone practices with potential hidden agendas,” he said, adding that anything outside proper budgetary allocations undermines the judiciary’s dignity.
He further explained that the judiciary should independently manage its budget, acquire its needs, and maintain its autonomy.
“No member of the executive should do that for the judiciary,” Osigwe stated.
He pointed out that the judiciary, like the legislature, should operate independently without relying on handouts disguised as gifts.
Osigwe’s remarks drew attention to recent controversies involving judges receiving gifts from governors.
One notable incident involved public outrage when a governor presented cars to judges, a move widely criticized as an attempt to influence their decisions.
The NBA president strongly condemned such public displays, describing them as humiliating and damaging to the public’s perception of the judiciary.
“Budgetary allocations for the judiciary should go through proper channels,” Osigwe emphasized.
He warned that handling judicial needs outside of formal budgetary processes is not only unconstitutional but also demeans the institution.
Osigwe urged judges to safeguard their independence by rejecting these practices, which he said create an unhealthy dependency on the executive.
He added that executives must not be seen as “big brothers” to the judiciary.
“This notion that the executive determines what the judiciary gets is humiliating,” he said.
Osigwe called for reforms to ensure that judicial needs are met without compromising their autonomy or dignity.
His statements have reignited public discourse on the separation of powers in Nigeria.
Many see this as a pivotal moment for the judiciary to reclaim its independence and assert its role as a neutral arbiter of justice.
However, critics argue that structural challenges, such as inadequate funding for the judiciary, create loopholes that allow such “benevolent” gestures to thrive.
In response to the controversy, Wike defended the housing project, saying it was purely motivated by the desire to improve the welfare of judges.
“The construction of these houses is part of the president’s vision for a better judiciary,” Wike said in September.
He dismissed claims that the housing initiative was politically motivated, insisting it was designed to strengthen judicial efficiency.
Despite Wike’s assurances, skeptics remain unconvinced. For many, the issue goes beyond housing.
It strikes at the heart of judicial integrity and the delicate balance of power in Nigeria’s democracy.
Osigwe’s remarks have resonated with those advocating for judicial reforms.
“Such acts of benevolence must be rejected,” Osigwe insisted, urging judges to prioritize their independence over material benefits.
