Falana threatens to sue FG over luxury houses for judges

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana is threatening legal action against the Nigerian Federal Government over newly built luxury houses allocated to judges in Abuja. Falana described the handover as discriminatory and illegal, questioning the legal basis for such exclusive benefits.

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We have got to a stage in the country where we need to challenge the special privileges given to the rich and top public officers in the country.

In a video shared by NewsCentral, Falana expressed his distress over the ceremony, stating that the government's actions violate the principle of equal treatment for all citizens. He emphasized that while judges are entitled to comfortable and secure accommodation, other public servants deserve similar consideration.

"You must treat us equally in our country," Falana asserted, highlighting the disparity in how different categories of public servants are treated. He pointed to university lecturers, particularly professors, who he said are poorly remunerated and often lack access to staff quarters despite their critical service to society.

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Yesterday, I was watching the telly, I was very sad when I saw that the federal government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself under what law we are operating from, because it’s discriminatory and illegal.

Falana also drew attention to governors serving in the National Assembly who continue to receive legislative salaries and allowances while retaining housing entitlements in both their home states and Abuja. He contrasted this with long-serving civil servants who retire with no such benefits.

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You must treat us equally in our country.

The lawyer warned that the government's arrangement would soon be challenged in court, stating, "If you don’t do it, you can be challenged, and that is going to happen very soon, because what is good for the goose is good for the gander."

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You can’t take out judges. Judges are entitled to accommodation, by the way. They must live comfortably; they must work securely, but other citizens must be equally provided for.