Falana threatened to sue the Nigerian government over the house allocated to the judge

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has threatened to take the Federal Government to court over a newly built luxury house allocated to a judge in Katampe district of Abuja, describing the move as discriminatory and contrary to the principle of equality before the law.

Falana while speaking in a video shared by NewsCentral on Thursday, questioned the legal basis for providing exclusive housing allowances to judges while other categories of civil servants continue to face poor welfare and inadequate housing.

He expressed disappointment at the handover ceremony and said he could not identify any law that justified the government’s action.

“We have reached a stage where we need to challenge the privileges given to the rich and high-ranking officials in this country,” he said.

“Yesterday, I was watching television, I was very sad when I saw the federal government handing over the keys to the house to a judge, and I asked myself under what laws we operate, because it is discriminatory and illegal. You have to treat us the same in our country.”

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Falana clarified that he was not opposed to judges being adequately accommodated, and stressed that judicial officers were entitled to decent and safe living conditions. However, he believes similar considerations should be extended to other civil servants.
“Judges have the right to receive accommodation. They must live comfortably, work safely, but other citizens must also receive the same living,” he said.

The senior lawyer warned that the issue would soon be tested in court, and stressed that government policy must comply with the principle of equality in the constitution.

“If you don’t do it, you will be challenged, and this will happen soon, because what is good for the goose is also good for the beholder,” he added.

Falana mentioned university lecturers as an example of civil servants who are ignored even though they have made their contributions. Falana noted that many professors have no official accommodation and low salaries.

He also criticized the housing and welfare benefits enjoyed by former governors who now serve as members of parliament, arguing that many of them retain various official rights while civil servants retire without similar support.