Wike Expresses Anger Over Wrong Interpretation Of His Visits To CJN

Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers state, expressed discontent over the wrong interpretation given to his visit to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

Nyesom Wike, Rivers state governor

It had been earlier reported that Wike had paid two visits to the CJN without prior appointments when a petition was pending in at the governorship election petitions tribunal against his election as governor.

This Day reports that Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor’s special assistant on media, made a statement, in which he confirmed that Wike went to see the CJN on July 7 and 9, and explained why the visits were so urgent.

He stated that the governor wanted to brief the CJN in his capacity as the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the need to renew the appointment of Justice Daisy Okocha, the acting chief judge of the state, and Justice Daisy Okocha, the acting president of the customary court of appeal.

He further noted that the current tenure of the incumbents would expire by the end of August 2015, by which time, the courts would be on vacation and the NJC might not be able to consider any request for the renewal of their reappointments.

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Nwakaudu added that although the governor went to the CJN’s office, he failed to meet him. However, understanding the importance and urgency of his mission, Wike wrote to the CJN next day asking the NJC to renew the appointments.

“The requests were premised on the need to avoid a sudden vacuum and ensure continuity in the administration of the state’s judiciary pending the appointment of substantive occupants into these offices.

“There is nothing wrong in the governor, who is also a member of the Body of Benchers, going to see the CJN during official working hours on issues pertaining to the effective administration of justice in his state.

“Therefore, linking the governor’s visit to the CJN with the ongoing election petition is to say the least, malicious, tendentious and a wicked attempt to drag the name of our most revered CJN and indeed the apex court into the murky waters of politics.

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“It is unfortunate that the management of The Punch Newspapers will allow itself to be used by politicians to denigrate and impugn the integrity of judiciary at the federal level with fabrications and outright falsehood laced with insinuations and innuendos.

“The governor therefore advises the management of The Punch Newspapers to caution their journalists to always base their reportage on facts and avoid actions that could trigger a crisis of confidence in the judiciary just to satisfy some narrow political interests,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Justice Mahmud Mohammed confirmed Wike’s visits but noted that he was absent at that time.

“For further clarification, during the week of the purported first visit by the 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.”

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