The paper examines the challenges of establishing the Urban and Regional Planning Tribunal in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria, the issues raised are necessitated by the Supreme Court judgment of 2003 that sets the limits of the Federal Government involvement with physical planning. The paper argues that the constitutional set – back from the judgment on the implementation of the law in the States has no standing in Abuja, being a Federal Capital Territory. However, legal, institutional and ethical constraints, were raised as the issues that would challenge successful implementation. The paper concludes with three sets of recommendation: for institutional reform and ethical re – orientation; adoption of the mediation strategy and for the strengthening of technical capacity through expanded recruitment and capacity building.