Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Monday confirmed the visits to his office at the Supreme Court Complex in Abuja by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State twice this month.
But the CJN, who spoke through his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, said he was not around to receive or have an audience with the governor on both occasions.
His reaction follows a media report on Monday that one of the governor’s visits coincided with the day the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, conducted hearing into an application filed by Wike to challenge an order permitting his opponent to inspect the electoral materials used for the poll that brought him to office.
The election of the former education minister, who ran for the governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, is being challenged by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Dakuku Peterside.
Isah in a statement, confirmed that the CJN never had prior appointments with the governor, adding that on the first visit by the governor, the CJN was away in Saudi Arabia observing the Lesser Hajj while during Wike’s second visit, the Nigeria’s number one judicial officer was also at a meeting of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, where candidates shortlisted for the rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, were being interviewed.
“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,” he stated.
The CJN also assured 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,” the statement added.
Wike had denied that his visit had anything to do with his case pending before the tribunal. He had told one of our correspondents that he was at the office because of the issue surrounding the appointment of the acting Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The Publicity Secretary of the APC in Rivers State, Chief Chris Finebone, had on Sunday described Wike’s visit to the CJN as curious.
“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,” he said.
