The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, has insisted on using Senior Advocates of Nigeria during court proceedings in the FCT instead of mere lawyers.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on FCT and the House Committee on FCT while presenting the administration’s 2024 statutory budget proposal, Wike justified his lack of confidence in the current legal team.
Wike revealed his shock upon discovering endemic land racketeering in Abuja, with a syndicate collaborating with FCT lawyers in court, according to the Independent.
He expressed embarrassment over the lawyers’ consistent losses in simple land cases, especially considering the administration faces over 1500 land cases monthly.
He highlighted concerns about directors in the Land Department participating in arbitrary land allocations, leading to legal disputes.
Wike cited an example where a director granted 500 hectares of land to a company, only for the company to collude with FCT lawyers to obtain a judgment against the administration.
He described the situation as “terrible” and reiterated his commitment to address such malpractices within the system.