JAGISTS

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, yesterday, after appearing to have been caught in political fray, dissociated himself from a purported statement on the activities of the aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, otherwise known as G5 Governors.

This happened as the PDP accused the CJN of meddlesomeness and dabbling in the internal affairs of the party.

Ariwoola was reported to have said that he was happy that the governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, is a member of G5 Governors.

Critics had imputed that the statement exposed the head of the judiciary as supporting politicians when he was supposed to be apolitical given the nature of the sensitive office he holds.

They cited two instances. First, the CJN was hosted to a reception after he assumed office by Makinde, one of the five PDP governors, where he was quoted  as making   the controversial statement.

Other governors in the G5, opposed to the leadership of the PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

The four other governors attended the Oyo State capital event where Ariwoola was hosted.

The CJN is from Oyo State.

Ariwoola was also hosted by Wike in Port-Harcourt on Friday, an event that also had in attendance all the members of the G5 Governors.

But in the Friday event, the CJN was not the only judicial officers hosted by the Rivers governor.

In attendance were many other judicial officers from across Nigeria.

Utterance

PDP, in a  statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja, yesterday, said: “While the PDP has the utmost respect for the institution of the judiciary, our party rejects any action or utterance by any judicial officer, let alone the CJN, that undermines the integrity of the judiciary.

“By delving into the internal affairs of the PDP at a public event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, where he was reported to have referred to the political activities of some PDP governors, which comment is viewed to be encouraging division in our party, the PDP posits that the CJN’s action is unacceptable and inconsistent with his status as the head of the judicial arm of government.

“Our party is worried that such partisan comment by the CJN is in violation of his Oath of Office as the head of the country’s judicial arm which is expected to be impartial and non-partisan.

“Irrespective of the circumstance or situation, the CJN is expected to be circumspect at all times and avoid partisan actions and utterances that are likely to erode the institutional integrity of the judiciary and bring it to disrepute especially as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections.”

The PDP spokesperson added that Nigerians expected the CJN, with his experience, to be in a position to advise, rebuke and punish members of the judicial arm who got entangled in the political arena.

“The fact that the CJN himself is the one reportedly violating this critical ethic of neutrality, fairness and respect for the Oath of Office for Judicial Officers raises serious concern in our polity”, he said.

“The question is, how do Nigerians and especially the PDP trust that the CJN will be an even-handed arbiter in any case or matter relating to internal issues in our Party or those connected to other political parties?

“It is instructive to note that the test for a Judge to recuse himself from a matter is the ‘likelihood of bias’ and the CJN is expected to be mindful of that test in his public engagements”.