Tinubu commissions Body of Benchers’ office annex in Abuja

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has commissioned the newly completed Office Annex for the Body of Benchers, located in the Institutional and Research District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Tinubu said the state-of-the-art edifice represents a critical milestone in the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring judicial independence, and enhancing the operational capacity of the apex regulatory body of the Nigerian legal profession.

President Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, emphasised that providing top-tier infrastructure for the legal community is a constitutional duty of the Executive to foster efficiency rather than an interference with judicial independence.

“Today’s ceremony is not merely a celebration of a beautiful edifice crafted with architectural excellence. It is a resounding affirmation of our administration’s steadfast commitment to the rule of law, the independence of our institutions, and the dignity of the Nigerian legal profession,” President Tinubu stated.

The President commended the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his aggressive infrastructural drive, noting that the timely completion of the project reflects the FCT’s ongoing urban renaissance.

He also highlighted ongoing interventions in the legal ecosystem, including the construction of two 300-bed hostels at the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, the completed Nile University access road, and a dedicated Fire Service Station for the institutional district. He stressed that the FCT was witnessing a remarkable renaissance because of the scale of ongoing infrastructure development.

ALSO READ: Tinubu has made Niger Delta most peaceful region in Nigeria — Otuaro

“When I appointed the Minister, I gave him a clear mandate: to transform Abuja into a modern, functional, and world-class capital city. Over the last three years, the scale of infrastructural development, urban renewal, and project delivery in the FCT has been unmatched. From the Court of Appeal Complex and the newly developed Judges’ Quarters to massive road networks like the Outer Southern Expressway, this city is witnessing a remarkable renaissance,” President Tinubu stated.

Stressing that the timely completion and handover of the Body of Benchers Office Annex was yet another achievement of accelerated governance, President Tinubu added: “It shows that when the leadership is focused, things get done, and they get done right.”

He charged the leadership and members of the legal body to see the new facility as a catalyst for systemic advancement.

“As you settle into this expanded space, I urge you to use it as a sanctuary for justice, mentorship, and deep reflection on how we can continue to reform our legal system to meet the contemporary needs of our citizens,” the President stated.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, HRM Albert Akpomudje, SAN, expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for facilitating the project in record time. He noted that the annex is a strategic addition that will greatly reduce accommodation challenges for members travelling from outside Abuja to attend key regulatory programmes, such as Call to Bar ceremonies.

Reflecting on the project’s genesis, FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike revealed that the request for the annex was made by the immediate past Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Asiwaju Solomon Awomolo, SAN.

He said that although the FCT’s statutory budget had already been passed at the time, President Tinubu directed that the project be included in the FCT’s supplementary budget, which was subsequently approved by the National Assembly.

As a Life Bencher himself, the Minister emphasised his commitment to using public office to make a positive impact. He announced that the delegation would immediately proceed to the Nigerian Law School to commission newly completed residential accommodation.

Earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the new office annex as a major institutional milestone for the legal profession and a symbol of Nigeria’s collective commitment to professional excellence, ethical standards, and the advancement of justice.

Dr Mahmoud expressed profound appreciation to President Tinubu for his unwavering support for institutional renewal and national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. She also thanked the FCT Minister for what she described as his visionary leadership and steadfast commitment to infrastructural development across the nation’s capital.

Providing the technical specifications of the project, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, explained that the newly commissioned Office Annex is located on Plot 688 within the Institutional and Research District and was specifically designed to support the Body of Benchers in carrying out its regulatory mandate.

He said the complex comprises a main block spread across two suspended floors, fully furnished and featuring a modern conference hall and premium lounge facilities, as well as a recreation block equipped with sporting and recreational facilities for members.

Representing the contractor, Tobacat Nigeria Ltd, the Project Manager, Engr. Hun Emmanuel, thanked the FCT Administration for the opportunity to contribute to the modernisation of the nation’s capital.

A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of a special appreciation plaque to the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, by the Body of Benchers in recognition of his outstanding support and commitment to the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria.