The president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has condemned the provision of houses and welfare for judges by politicians, saying the practice erodes judicial integrity.

“It is wrong for the executive to build courtrooms, buy cars for judges, invite judges and hand over vehicles to them,” said Mr Osigwe on a Channels TV interview on Friday. 

The NBA president’s criticism came weeks after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory  Nyesom Wike, in a viral video, inspected the mansions built for several high court judges in Abuja. 

Mr Osigwe stated that such actions do not only demean the judiciary but also create a terrible perception of closeness between the judiciary and the executive arm of government.

“The growing trend portrays judges as beneficiaries of political patronage and weakens public trust in the justice system. Sometimes it would appear that the judiciary is happy. The judges are happy to be paraded by politicians receiving cars, as if the person were doing them a favour.

“As if the governor or minister or whoever is spending his own personal money. It demeans the judges. It demeans the judiciary,” he added.

The NBA president further said such a  development undermines judicial integrity, noting that it raises serious moral concerns about the neutrality of judicial officers to deliver unbiased justice.

He stated, “Judicial needs should be handled through proper budgetary processes. If the courts need houses, they should be put in their budget, and the courts should be allowed to handle it. The public display is demeaning and robs them of the perception of being independent.”

Mr Osigwe stressed the need for judicial independence, urging lawyers to always resist being tools in the hands of desperate politicians. 

“Over the years, there have been worries that the electoral process has been overly judicialised, with fears of corrupt practices affecting judgments. Lawyers should not be a tool in the hands of politicians, not to use litigation to manipulate the political process. If the legal and judicial process is put to the wrong use, we may have the tendency of truncating democracy,” the NBA boss advised. 

Last year, Mr Wike pledged more housing projects for judges in Abuja, reiterating President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to supporting the judiciary to enhance productivity.

Meanwhile, Mr Tinubu, during the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference in Abuja, urged judges to uphold the sanctity of their profession by safeguarding integrity, noting that the public’s perception of them was poor.

“We must acknowledge, with candour, that public perception of the judicial process has not always been favourable. Citizens have expressed frustration at delays, concerns about integrity, and anxiety over access to justice,” the president said.