G5 Statement: CJN Must Resign – Northern Groups Insist

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, should retire from office over his comments on the Peoples Democratic Party G5 group, a coalition of 52 northern organisations urged on Thursday.

According to the organization, a successful democracy requires a fair and impartial court.

The 52 Arewa socio-cultural groups made the demand at a news conference in Abuja, only days after the CJN expressed delight that Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had linked himself with the PDP G5 governors led by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

Supreme Court Clears Air Over CJN Comment On PDP G5 and Makinde

The CJN’s remark during the inauguration of a Wike-built project sparked outrage, with several persons and groups accusing him of partisanship.

However, the Supreme Court’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Dr. Festus Akande, exonerated the CJN, stating his remark was misconstrued.

He had said, “Issues bordering on misconceptions and misrepresentations of this nature are not always strange in times like this when the country is preparing for general elections, as some people may want to take advantage of every opportunity to score very cheap goals. As we all know, this is the era of aggressive and even unconventional politicking, so, there’s nothing that will not be heard or seen at this crucial time, especially between now and February 2023, when the general elections will be conducted.

“People say whatever they choose to say, just to please their selfish interests and inordinate desires. We can’t really pinpoint where such barefaced falsehood is coming from; and certainly, we don’t also know at what point the CJN said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was a member of the now christened ‘Integrity Group’ or “G-5 Governors.’

PDP Warns CJN Over Intruding Into Party’s Internal Affairs

CNG’s National Coordinator, Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, disagreed, stating the CJN’s perceived error proved that certain judges were no better than politicians in black robes.

While describing Ariwoola’s remark as a “ridiculous and blatant” attempt to drag the entire judiciary into partisanship, Charanchi expressed regret that, despite the public outcry generated by the CJN’s comments in many circles, neither the National Judicial Council, the Executive, nor the Legislative arms of the Federal Government have responded.

He said, “The CNG hereby unequivocally condemn with all our might any such attempts by the government to condone highly placed judicial officers who abuse the judicial independence which is critical to fairness and impartiality and free from outside pressures or inducements.

“We call for the immediate resignation of Mr. Ariwoola from the position of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and an unconditional apology to Nigerians for the embarrassment caused.

PDP Warns CJN About Party Internal Affairs

“We call on the Legislative and executive arms of government to come out of their present docility by imitating urgent processes for stripping the Ariwoola of the title of the CJN in order to restore the integrity of the judiciary and reclaim public confidence in the Justice system.”

According to him, the CNG was concerned that Justice Ariwoola had raised serious concerns about his personal integrity and the judiciary’s ability to maintain neutrality under any circumstances.

Charanchi added, “This remark has clearly exposed the Chief Justice of Nigeria as incapable or unprepared to dispense impartial Justice in accordance with the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) which further expose the federal government incapacity and/ or lacking in the political will and capacity to check action that are detrimental to such.

“If the Chief dispenser of Justice would so callously expose his parson and by implication, the nation’s judiciary to such level of moral and ethical corruption by being outright partisan, the court shall cease to be the temple of justice and the last hope for the nation, a development that is detrimental to the healthy growth of our country’s democracy.

See Important Facts To Know About The New Chief Justice Of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola

“For whatever intent and purposes and despite attempts by aides at a belated whitewash, the CJN’s remark is an unambiguous and deliberate expression of partial interest in certain active political formations.

“By this tacit endorsement of a section of the political community, the CJN has inadvertently drowned the nation’s judiciary deep into the murky waters of the kind of cut throat politics the likes of Governor Nyesom Wike are known for.

“The CNG therefore finds it unacceptable for the CJN to continue in that position after presenting himself as an active player in a particular team thereby completely destroying the reality and appearance of a fair and impartial, non-partisan justice administration system.

 

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