Election Tribunal: CJN denies meeting Wike twice

Justice Mahmud Mohammed, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) did not meet with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike during his recent visits to his office, the Office of the CJN said on Monday.

In a statement issued in reaction to stories that the Rivers State Governor whose victory at the 2015 polls is still being challenged at an Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja has met with the CJN two times in the past two weeks.

The insinuation was that Wike may be out to influence the decision of the Election Tribunal handling the petition against his election through the CJN.

But Ahuraka Yusuf Isah, the media aide to the CJN who signed the statement denying the meeting affirmed that the CJN at no time had an audience with Wike before, on and after the date the Governor was speculated to have visited him in office.

According to him, the CJN was away in Saudi Arabia performing Umrah during the week of the purported first visit by the Governor Wike which was on 6 July while on 8 July, the date of the alleged second visit, the CJN was in court observing the interview of shortlisted applicants for the award of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he said.

“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,” Isah said.

“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.”

He added that the CJN was not even aware of the governor’s visit until the next morning.

“I wish to assure the good people of Rivers State and Nigeria that the CJN and indeed the entire Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria is veritably committed to upholding the integrity, neutrality and independence of our Judiciary,” Isah said.

“This is a responsibility, which we hold dear and will not shirk,” he added.