The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola,  yestetday performed the groundbreaking and foundation laying of a 37 billion Naira five-storey structure for the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, 27 years after its establishment.

Currently, the Abuja Division shares a space at the Court of Appeal Headquarters within the Three Arms Zone in the nation’s capital city.

In his remark, Ariwoola described the initiative to construct the edifice for the Abuja Division as a great thing for the judiciary.

He added that Court of Appeal  headquarters remains the headquarters, while the division of the court of the appeal does not have to be part of the headquarters,

He noted that a care for the Judiciary is a care for Justice, promised to ensure that the edifice is well utilized upon completion.

He lauded the numerous support the Judiciary had received under the present Renewed Hope Agenda, and like Oliver Twist, solicited that the members of the Supreme Court should equally be considered.

“We appreciate Mr. President, and with through, the Attorney General, and the yourself as the FCT Minister, to convey our sincere appreciation and gratitude to Mr. President for all the things he has been doing and for the promises, we shall not disappoint, we shall not let you down.

“All the judiciary needs, is to be left to function to perform its role unhindered, as much as possible, like the President of the Bar said, once you take care of the judiciary, you’ve taken care of justice. If you cry for peace anywhere in the world without justice, that can be no peace.

“We guarantee peace, we promise to ensure that peace is given to whoever is due, so that we can all enjoy peace. Justice is important and imperative. We promise we will always give justice”, he stated.

Similarly, President Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem who commended Wike for starting what he promised, said the edifice will facilitate smoother dispensation of justice in Nigeria, nothing that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere in the world.

On his part, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, said the project got the leave of President Bola Tinubu to attend to the needs of the Judiciary, as he attached much importance to the welfare of Judiciary staff towards institutionalising Justice across the country.

He who promised to deliver the edifice by September 2025 Legal year, said President Tinubu graciously approved 30 billion out of the 37 billion in the 2024 budget,

The Minister also disclosed receipt of  approval to construct 40 houses for the top Judiciary officers, 10 houses for Court Of Appeal, 20 for FCT High Court and 10 for the Federal High Court, as well as retirement homes for the head of courts.

Earlier, the President, Nigeria Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau expressed gratitude to Tinubu and Wike for begining the complex they had been expecting, 48 years after the creation FCT, with 16 past Ministers that never looked in their direction.

Not left out, the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engineer Shehu Ahmad, explained that the project sited in Dakibiyu District, is located within the vicinity of the Code of Conduct Bureau and the FCT High Court.

He disclosed that the five-storey complex would consist of 10 courts consisting of 10 suites for the Justices, administrative offices for the Registrar, support staff, and file rooms for storage of case documents, including conveniences and recess areas for the justices.

High point of the event was the presentation of C of O of the allocated land for the Court Complex to the President of Court Of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem.