Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has defended Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike against allegations that providing houses and law schools for the judiciary amounts to bribing judges.
Speaking in a televised interview aired on Inside Nigeria’s official YouTube channel, Fayose described the allegations as politically motivated, arguing that government investment in judicial infrastructure cannot reasonably be interpreted as an attempt to compromise judicial independence.
“Ordinary states build houses for state houses of assembly. For Governor Wike to build houses for the judiciary, to build law schools, is he bribing law students?” he said.
Fayose argued that Nigeria’s judiciary has suffered decades of neglect and said it was unrealistic to expect one administration to address longstanding institutional challenges within three years. He also pointed to recent appellate court decisions as evidence that the judiciary remains capable of correcting itself.
The former governor criticised social media commentators for reacting to headlines without understanding the full context. He added that judicial accommodation is institutional, with official residences occupied by successive judges, making claims of bribery unfounded.
“I think Governor Wike has done well by remembering the third arm of government, which is supposed to be quiet and silent,” Fayose said.
