National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, has criticized the Federal Government’s construction of residential quarters for Court of Appeal judges, describing the initiative as a form of inducement.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Wednesday, Baba-Ahmed reacted to the recent commissioning of a 10-unit Court of Appeal Judges’ Quarters in Abuja by President Bola Tinubu.

According to him, providing houses specifically for judges raises concerns about the relationship between the executive and judicial arms of government.

“If this government genuinely built an estate for judges, literally, it’s a bribe. That’s the fact,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He argued that the government should instead focus on improving judges’ salaries, allowances and overall welfare, enabling them to acquire homes independently rather than receiving government-built residences.

Baba-Ahmed also questioned why similar housing projects were not extended to other categories of public servants, including permanent secretaries and medical professionals.

“Building houses for them and exempting other workers is absurd. Why can’t the government build houses for permanent secretaries or doctors?” he asked.

The PRP chairman further stated that, if consulted, he would advise judges not to accept such housing benefits, maintaining that judicial independence should remain beyond any perception of executive influence.

The housing estate, recently commissioned in Abuja, is part of the Federal Government’s judicial infrastructure programme aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers. Government officials have described the project as an investment in strengthening the judiciary and enhancing the administration of justice.