The Supreme Court has debunked the report of a meeting between the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, and the Governor of River State, Nyesom Wike.
According to a statement by the CJN’s media aide, Ahuraka Isah, on Monday, July 20, 2015 in Abuja, contrary to reports, the CJN was in Saudi Arabia performing the lesser hajj when the purported first meeting was supposed to have held, while he was interviewing the legal practitioners shortlisted for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on the date the second meeting was said to have held.
The statement read: “Our attention has been drawn to insinuations in some dailies that the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, had met with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON, during one of his visits to the office of the CJN on July 6 and 8, this year.
“However, we would not have ordinarily wished to react to such stories except for the misinformation and the erroneous impression it may cast in the mind of the public.
“We wish to state with all emphasis that the CJN at no time had an audience with Governor Wike. This includes before, on and after the said date.
“For further clarification, during the week of the purported first visit by Governor Wike on July 6, 2015, his Lordship was away in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah. On the date of the alleged second visit, which was on Wednesday July 8, 2015, the CJN was in court observing the interview of shortlisted applicants for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria
“A senior official in the CJN’s chamber intercepted Governor Wike and advised that it is a policy of the CJN not to entertain visits of politicians, especially those with cases in the courts.
“Consequently, Governor Wike left at that point, even though he tried to state reasons for his visit, which included the issue of the appointment of substantive Chief Judge for his state and to thank the CJN for sending the Bayelsa State Chief Judge to swear him into office.
“In fact, His Lordship was not even aware of the visit until the next morning. The CJN, therefore, did not see the governor as reported in the said dailies.
“I wish to assure the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria that the CJN, and indeed the entire Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, is veritably committed to upholding the integrity, neutrality and independence of our judiciary. This is a responsibility, which we hold dear and will not shirk.”
