Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has sparked a fierce debate over judicial independence and executive influence, describing President Bola Tinubu's gift of residential houses to Court of Appeal judges as a "bribe" and openly advising the judicial officers to reject the offer. Baba-Ahmed made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, just days after the President commissioned the newly completed 10-unit Court of Appeal Judges' Quarters in the Katampe District of Abuja.
In his characteristically blunt assessment, Baba-Ahmed did not mince words. “If this government genuinely built an estate for judges, literally, it’s a bribe. That’s the fact,” he said, according to multiple media reports. He argued that the gesture, while appearing as a welfare initiative, fundamentally undermines the independence of the judiciary by creating a perception of indebtedness that could influence judicial outcomes. He insisted that government support for judges should come through improved remuneration and welfare packages rather than direct allocation of houses by the executive. “Government should rather improve their salary and allowances to improve their lives so that they can build their own houses,” he stated. He also questioned why similar housing projects were not extended to other categories of public servants. “Building houses for them and exempting other workers is absurd. Why can’t the government build houses for permanent secretaries or doctors?” he asked. Baba-Ahmed further stated that, if consulted, he would advise members of the judiciary to decline such gifts in order to avoid perceptions that could undermine public confidence in the independence of the courts. “If I were to advise the judges, I would straight up tell them not to accept the house gifts,” he added.
The PRP chairman's comments add to a growing chorus of criticism over the housing project, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in September. The project includes 40 housing units in the Katampe District, with 20 allocated to the FCT High Court, 10 to the Federal High Court, and 10 to the Court of Appeal. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) had previously criticised the project as unconstitutional and an embarrassment to the judiciary, arguing that it could influence judges. Reacting to Falana's concerns, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike's spokesperson, Lere Olayinka, had defended the project, insisting there was nothing wrong with the government providing accommodation for judicial officers, citing checks and balances. However, Baba-Ahmed's intervention has sharpened the debate, moving it from a procedural disagreement to a direct accusation of impropriety.
The controversy comes at a time of heightened sensitivity around the separation of powers in Nigeria, with the judiciary frequently being called upon to rule on politically sensitive cases. As the 2027 elections approach, concerns about the independence of the courts and the potential for executive overreach are becoming increasingly pronounced. For now, the 10 newly built houses in Katampe stand as a physical symbol of a debate that cuts to the heart of Nigeria's democratic integrity: whether the executive can build homes for judges without buying their independence.
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