Land Racketeering: Wike Criticizes The Judiciary For Issuing Blanket Injunctions

Nyesom Wike

Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has urged the judiciary to investigate the arbitrarily granting of injunctions against the FCT Administration in relation to land racketeering and other issues.

When a delegation from the FCT Judiciary, led by Justice Husseini Yusuf, the FCT Chief Judge, paid him a visit in his office in Abuja on Thursday, Wike made the request.

He bemoaned the shady business being conducted in the FCT, sometimes in concert with some FCT Administration personnel, and added that judges were further complicating matters by issuing indiscriminate injunctions.

The racketeering in the FCT, he continued, was out of control, and he requested the Chief Judge to look into it.

"We appeal to you; so many things are happening in FCT, so many things. With the kind of sharp practices going on in FCT and collusion with the staff of FCT.

"They go to court and get all kinds of injunctions without even us getting the services, and before you know it, there are judgements.

"We are not blaming you, after all, your own is based on facts presented to you, but we are trying to change all that now because the land racketeering in FCT is getting out of hand.

"You see injunction here, injunction there, injunction in the next two minutes; injunction in the next five minutes; injunction in 30 minutes; it is unprecedented. Some of them even go outside to Kuje.

"We want to bring this to your attention so that you can look into it. That is not the best," he said.

The minister praised the Chief Judge for the judiciary's stability in the FCT and the friendly working relationship between the FCTA and the judiciary, but he also emphasized the need to improve teamwork.

He committed to enhancing judges' quality of life in the FCT judiciary, particularly with regard to accommodations.