The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed has confirmed the visits to his office at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State twice this month.
Related: Everyone Wants To Know Why Wike Visited Nigeria’s Chief Justice Twice In A Month
Eyebrows have been raised concerning Wike’s visit to the CJN because the Governor has a case filed by Dakuku Peterside of the APC challenging his election before the petitions tribunal.
In a statement through his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, the CJN explained that twice Wike tried to see him and twice Wike was unsuccessful.
“Our attention has been drawn to reports that the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike had met with the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, GCON during one of his visits to the office of the CJN on July 6 and July 8 this year.
“However, we would not have ordinarily wished to react to such stories except for 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 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 the 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.”
The CJN assured the people of Rivers that they have nothing to fear.
“The CJN assures the people of Rivers State and Nigerians that he 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.”
As you would expect, the APC didn’t find the news of Wike’s visit funny.
The Publicity Secretary of APC in Rivers State, Chief Chris Finebone, said the visit was curious.
Finebone said though his party believed that the person of the CJN was beyond compromise, he nevertheless wondered why Wike refused to carry the media along during the visits.
He said, “We have no cause to doubt the integrity of the CJN, but we must say that the visits must have been made open and known to Nigerians. Why was it not made known?
“Wike believes that every human being has a price. His problem is just to identify the price. His case is pending and he refused to go with the media during the visits.
“We want to believe that the visits didn’t happen and if it happened, he must tell Nigerians why he chose to embark on the visit without the media.”
Wike had his defence ready when the news broke.
“I didn’t go there to lobby for anything cynical. If I was going to lobby for anything like that, would I go in the afternoon?
“You may wish to know that we have an acting Chief Judge in my state, and the judiciary is already on vacation and that the NJC may also be on vacation.
“So, I needed to do a letter to the NJC on the need to extend or approve the appointment of the acting CJ in my state. I went there on the two days in daytime; and see Nigerians, they are already imputing another meaning to the visits”, the Governor had told the Punch on Monday.
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