The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has said  Nigeria will suffer grave effect if judicial officers were consistently deprived of requisite infrastructure.

He made the remark at the commissioning of  20  four-bedroom duplexes built for judges of Rivers origin serving both in the state and federal judiciaries at the Emmanuel  Chinwenwo Aguma Judges Quarters in Port Harcourt.

Justice Muhammad, who was represented by Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court noted that judges would be more confident to dispense justice if they have good shelter and welfare.

“Lagos and Rivers States rank among the most litigious States. The Implication is that manpower and materials are perennially stretched far beyond limit to attend to the large number of cases filed daily. That explains the enormity of work before Judges. A good car, shelter and good welfare package are some of those things that can serve as magic wand to bring out the best from them.

“Whenever  we deliberately or inadvertently toil with the welfare of judicial officers ,we are unconsciously inflicting a debilitating wound on the conscience of the nations.

“We are not ignorant of Governor Wike’s huge investment to improve infrastructure of federal courts.  You are today also giving to Judges a life long accommodation on owner- occupier basis,” he said.

Governor Nyesom Wike said the judiciary would be on a  pedestal of efficiency and productivity with the support given to it by his administration.

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“There is need to guarantee judicial independence and secure effective administration of justice.

“These are the overriding consideration for the unprecedented investment we have made in our judicial system.

“I cannot think of any State Government  with similar welfare scheme we have made. This will have profound and positive impact on judicial officers. We have moved our Judiciary from the valley of neglect to an enviable hilltop of independence, capacity and effectiveness,” he stated.

Governor Wike said the gesture would end the era  when judges retire and have no shelter.

“Given the constitutional restriction on legal practice, post legal service years could be miserable for judges who were unable to buy or build their own homes before leaving the service.

“With our policy,  the state now bears the full responsibility to providing befitting  accommodation for all judicial officers of Rivers State origin  beyond their service years for life.

“The State Government spent the sum of N6 billion  to build,  furnish and landscape this estate. The Government also reserves the interest to buy back any flat and reallocate to other judges to preserve the exclusivity of the estate for judicial officers alone. Twenty-three Judges opted for cash payment and have been given the approved sum of N150 million each to build and have their own houses. Cumulatively,  the State Government disbursed the sum of N3.6billion to the beneficiaries.