Wike Defends Choice Of Senior Advocates Over FCT Lawyers In Land Cases
In a recent development, Barrister Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, has stood firm on his decision to enlist Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) instead of relying on the FCT Administration lawyers for court proceedings.
Presenting the administration’s 2024 statutory budget proposal before the Senate Committee on FCT and the House Committee on FCT, Wike articulated his rationale, citing a lack of confidence in the current legal team.
Wike expressed astonishment at the discovery of endemic land racketeering in Abuja, implicating a syndicate that colluded with FCT lawyers in court. He voiced his dismay over the lawyers’ consistent failures in handling straightforward land cases, particularly with the administration facing a staggering number of over one thousand five hundred land cases monthly.
Highlighting his resolve, the Minister firmly stated his decision to bar FCT Administration lawyers from representing the government in any court regarding land cases. He underscored concerns about directors in the Land Department engaging in arbitrary land allocations, resulting in legal disputes.
Wike pointed to a specific instance where a director granted 500 hectares of land to a company, only for the company to conspire with FCT lawyers to secure a judgment against the administration. Describing the situation as “terrible,” he reiterated his commitment to root out such malpractices within the system.
