In a statement made
available to Enigma Reports titled “Wike, the CJN is beyond your corrupting
influence!” and signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Chris Finebone, the party
said it was “aware and did monitor each of those visits but decided not to make
it a media issue in line with the party’s communication management strategy and
based on our unflinching belief that the CJN is beyond the corrupting influence
of Gov. Nyesom Wike”.
Having been brought to
the public domain by the media, the APC would like to state that, satisfied
that Wike’s visits were not to the knowledge of the revered CJN, we did not
want to act in a way that would portray the CJN as someone that keeps bad
company because the APC believes in the impeccable and incorruptible character
of Justice Mahmud Mohammed. We also know that 10 Nyesom Wikes cannot compromise
the CJN”.
Furthermore, the party
noted that it was able to identify a highly placed character in the Nigerian Judiciary
behind the plan and the real issues that prompted the visits.
It dismissed the excuse
by the governor that his visit had something to do with the matter of
appointment of Chief Justice for Rivers State, saying that such an excuse “flies
in the face” and was “a mere façade”.
“We understand how
government business works and the Governor needed not personally pay any visits
to the CJN over that matter in the way it was done,” Finebone added.
The APC challenged Governor
Wike “to make public other persons in the Federal judiciary he also visited
within the period and reasons for such visits because information in our
possession indicates that he met with other officials in the Federal judiciary”.
The party called on its
members and the Nigerian public “not to lose sleep over the governor’s visits
to the CJN as the respected Chief Justice Mahmud Mohammed is a man of untainted
integrity that cannot fall for Wike’s filthy lucre”.
However, in a swift reaction, Governor Nyesom Wike, has debunked the claim that he went to see the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed, on any issues related to the Elections Petitions Tribunal case.
In a statement by his
Special Assistant on Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike his visit to the CJN on the 7th
and 9th of July 2015, was to brief the CJN in his capacity as the Chairman of
the National Judicial Council on the need to renew the appointment of the acting
Chief Judge of Rivers State, Daisy Okocha, and also the acting President of the
Customary Court of Appeal, Christy Gabriel Nwankwo.
Wike maintained that
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, insisting that linking
his 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”.
Earlier yesterday, the
Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mahmud Mohammed, refuted reports that he had
hosted Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State twice in his chamber at the Supreme
Court.
Justice Mohammed,
through a statement by his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, insisted that contrary to
what was reported by a section of the media yesterday, he never at any time had
an audience with Governor Wike in relation to any matter whatsoever.
He, however,
acknowledged that Wike visited his office on July 6 and July 8, but did not
meet due to his being out of the country at the time, and was observing the
interview of shortlisted applicants for the award of Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, SAN, on July 8 when the governor repeated his visit, and was only
informed about the development the next day.
The CJN assured the
good people of Rivers State and Nigeria 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”.
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