Tag: Justice Olukayode Ariwoola

  • CJN Not Under DSS Investigation – Supreme Court

    CJN Not Under DSS Investigation – Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed an insinuation that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola was subjected to interrogation by the Department of the State Service (DSS) over alleged pro-Wike political remarks.

    The apex court also debunked claims that five Justices of the Court have demanded resignation from office by the CJN over the same issue.

    In a statement by the Director of Information and Press of the Court, Dr Festus Akande, the apex Court warned those peddling the rumours to desist in their own interests.

    The reaction of the Supreme Court is in response to a publication by an online medium, which reported that Justice Ariwoola has been grilled by DSS over his alleged political remarks in Port Harcourt at a public function.

    The statement read in part, “We have read with dismay and shock a publication with the above caption by an online media outfit, “People’s Gazette,” alleging that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was grilled by the DSS for the remarks he made in ‘Port Harcourt at a state banquet’ and that ‘five Justices of Supreme Court are calling for his resignation.’

    “Just like our earlier press statement debunking this barefaced falsehood and mischievous antics aimed at scoring very cheap and unpopular political gains in this era of aggressive and mudslinging politicking, we wish to state in very clear and unmistaken terms, that this is yet another round of the avalanche of lies that have been disingenuously packaged by individuals with an unenviable pedigree to malign the character and personality of not just the CJN but several other Judicial Officers that they considered to be too unpliable and principled to be approached for any form of underhand dealings, especially as election cases (petitions) will soon be streaming to the tribunals (courts) for adjudication.”

    According to the statement, it had become very obvious that those with sinister motives have perfected plans to unleash all manner of coordinated attacks on Judicial Officers, starting from the CJN with a view to arm-twisting and blackmailing and ridiculing them to silence, ultimately for their ulterior motives.

    The statement further added that the publication is laced with tissues of lies, non-existent sources of information and unsubstantiated claims and it clearly showed the unwholesome intentions of the authors.

    It also clarified that no single Justice of the Supreme has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of the Supreme Court has or is writing any letter of protest whatsoever.

    “Neither the CJN nor the Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court or other Courts for that matter, are politicians, so, none of them should be dragged into politics in any form whatsoever.

    “Our advice to this set of rabble-rousers whose stock in trade is character assassination via dissemination of false information to create tension and disaffection is to have a rethink and engage in meaningful productive activities that will move the nation forward. A word is enough for the wise,” the statement said.

  • Atiku Lambasts CJN Ariwoola

    Atiku Lambasts CJN Ariwoola

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Phrank Shaibu, has reacted to remarks by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola, suggesting fraternity between the chief judicial officer and some politicians in the country.  

    Shaibu, who is also the special assistant on public communications to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, noted in a statement on Friday that Justice Ariwoola’s descent into political commentaries portended great dangers for the country’s judiciary. 

    Shaibu specifically frowns at the CJN’s remarks in support of a group of governors of the PDP led by the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike. 

    The statement reads, “On October 30, 2022, the CJN, who is from Oyo State, was hosted to an elaborate reception by the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde. At the event, Justice Ariwoola sat with Makinde and other governors, who now pride themselves as the G5. The governors all posed with the CJN for the cutting of the cake, where political statements were made.  

    “It seems that Justice Ariwoola has continued to enjoy the company of politicians. On November 24, 2022, the CJN was in Rivers State, this time as a guest of Governor Wike, who also happens to be a member of the G5.  

    “Apparently overwhelmed by Wike’s lavish reception at the inauguration of judiciary projects, the CJN said at the live event that he was happy that Makinde was a member of the G5 and solidly with the Rivers State governor.”

    The Director of Information of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande in a reaction said the CJN is not a politician, adding that people choose what they like to “suit their interests and inordinate desires.” 

    “He (the CJN) said he was surprised to see the G-5 Governors (Integrity Group Governors ) which, incidentally, his own State Governor,  Engineer Seyi Makinde is a member at the occasion.

    “Anything said, assumed, presumed or reported outside this, is simply a mere figment of the imagination of such authors and don’t in anyway represent what the CJN said in Port Harcourt, as no one is ready to join issues with such purveyors of misinformation,” he said.

  • 2023: CJN Swears In Election Petition Tribunal Members

    2023: CJN Swears In Election Petition Tribunal Members

    The Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has sworn in members of the Election Petition Tribunal for the 2023 general elections.

    The event took place on Monday at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, the country’s political capital.

    Having administered the oath of office on the members of the Tribunal, the CJN urged the judicial officers not to treat their assignments with levity, warning that he will not tolerate any form of judicial recklessness.

    The exercise kicked off a four-day capacity workshop for the justices and members of the Tribunal to end on Thursday.

    In other to forestall conflicting rulings by the Tribunals, the Appeal Court compiled a case management system, which is a document that will serve as an additional guide.

    Also in attendance at the event include the President of the Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem; Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu; as well as justices of the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Dongban-Mensem admonished members of the Tribunal to be firm and law-abiding in the discharge of their duties, nothing that by the nature of their assignments, they will be exposed to temptations but they must be in total control of their thoughts.

    On his part, the INEC chairman said the commission has been joined in at least 600 cases, arising from the recent conduct of party primaries.

  • Make Judicial Reform Your First Task, NBA President Urges Acting CJN Ariwoola

    Make Judicial Reform Your First Task, NBA President Urges Acting CJN Ariwoola

    The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has called on the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to reform the nation’s judiciary and restore public confidence in the third arm of government.

    Mr Akpata made the call on Monday in a statement while reacting to the resignation of the former CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad.

    He reiterated the need for urgent reforms in the judiciary, urging the incoming chief justice to make judicial reform and the restoration of public confidence in the judiciary his first task upon assuming office.

    The NBA president pledged the readiness of the Bar to work together with Justice Ariwoola in cleansing “the Augean stable and addressing the ills that have continued to plague not just the judiciary but the entire legal profession”.

    He also thanked the outgone chief justice for the cordial working relationship between the bar and the bench during his tenure and wished him a quick recovery and well-deserved peaceful retirement.

    “It is, however, impossible to consider his lordship’s retirement in isolation of the recent unprecedented developments at the Supreme Court where 14 justices of the court censured the outgone Chief Justice of Nigeria over his lordship’s handling of their welfare and related issues,” said Akpata.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had sworn in Justice Ariwoola to replace Justice Muhammad who resigned as the CJN on Sunday night on grounds of ill-health.

    News of Muhammad’s resignation broke barely a week after 14 justices of the Supreme Court wrote to him to lament the dilapidated state of affairs in the apex court.

    In a leaked letter, the justices alleged that Justice Muhammad failed to address the issues raised despite drawing his attention to them, among other claims.

    But these allegations were denied by an aide to the former CJN.