The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has tasked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of national importance and urgency, stop the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and governors of the 36 states from providing vehicles and houses to judges.
SERAP stressed that the action of the FCT Minister, Wike and the governors, clearly violate the independence of the judiciary and undermines constitutional principles.
It also said that these actions encroach on the authority of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and create an appearance of judicial subservience to the executive.
In an open letter dated November 9, 2024, signed Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, the organization emphasized the importance of an independent judiciary that must be free from executive influence, stressing that such gifts compromise judicial autonomy and violate the separation of powers.
SERAP therefor appealed to President Tinubu to direct the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to legally challenge the unholy and morally bankrupt practices.
The letter which was copied the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, noted that weakening the separation of powers undermines the judiciary’s role as a check on the executive branch.
SERAP therefore called on Tinubu to constitutionally improve the funding for the judiciary to ensure adequate working conditions and judicial independence without executive interference.
It warned that it would consider legal action if there was no government response within seven days, citing constitutional provisions mandating judiciary funds to be allocated directly to court heads.
SERAP also referenced former President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Order No. 10 of 2020, which reinforced state judiciary financial autonomy.
