Wike Says FG’s Plan to Deduct State Funds For Judiciary is Illegal

The governor said the action would hamper the independence of the judiciary if implemented.

Wike said this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media Kelvin Ebirion on Friday, November 13, 2020.

The governor argued that the action of the Federal Government constituted yet another breach of the constitutional powers of the Governors to manage State resources, adding that the ‘FG cannot cannot legitimately claim to be more interested in the progress of state judiciaries than the governors of the respective states’.

Wike added that the independence of the judiciary was not only about finances but also about the ability of the judicial officers to write judgments without the fear of being harassed by officers of the Department of State Services or the Economic and Financial Crime Commission.

It would be recalled that barely a month ago, Wike said it is wrong for FG to ask state governors to take over the Tactical Commands of the Police.