Group calls on NASS to remove CJN Ariwoola over alleged partisan comment
Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Civil Society Coalition of Nigeria (CNSC) staged a protest at the entrance of the National Assembly on Friday to demand the removal of the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, for a "partisan comment" he made in Rivers State.
The group organized the protest against what it described as the CJN's apparent partisanship and urged the National Assembly to institute an investigation into the circumstances leading to the statement attributed to it.
Mr. Ariwoola reportedly said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the state the CJN originated from, is among the G-5 governors.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode AriwoolaG-5 Governors including Mr Makinde, Nyesom Wike from Rivers State, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) are pushing for the replacement of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu with someone from Southern Nigeria following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate for next year's election.
Mr Ayu and Atiku are both from the North.
The Supreme Court has since debunked the report.
Supreme Court Director of Information and Press Festus Akande says CJN spoke only briefly at banquet held as part of planned commissioning events for two projects judicial executions by the Rivers State government, and never made the comment credited to him.
The court can no longer be trusted under AriwoolaSpeaking on behalf of the group, Ishaku Balogun, the organizer of the group, said Mr Ariwoola's statement undermines the independence of the judiciary.
He said the CJN had descended into the political arena, adding that Nigerians could no longer be trusted to be non-partisan.
“The independence of the judiciary cannot be considered satisfactory since the CJN has already taken sides in a political dispute within one political party among the 18 others who are sponsoring candidates for the 2023 elections.
“We demand his immediate dismissal as Nigerians no longer have confidence in him as an impartial judge. truncate the good efforts already put in place by the National Assembly.
"The Civil Society Coalition of Nigeria has since analyzed its statements during commissioning and has come to the conclusion that democracy is indeed at risk," he said.
Mr. Balogun added that “the CJN should resign, failing which our coalition will press every legitimate means through the revolt of the citizens to leave the exalted, impartial and independent post of Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
He also alleged that the group also staged a protest on Tuesday, but they were dispersed by police.
“A few days ago, we came out to save our hard-fought democracy. The Nigerian police men unleashed on us s...
Some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the umbrella of the Civil Society Coalition of Nigeria (CNSC) staged a protest at the entrance of the National Assembly on Friday to demand the removal of the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, for a "partisan comment" he made in Rivers State.
The group organized the protest against what it described as the CJN's apparent partisanship and urged the National Assembly to institute an investigation into the circumstances leading to the statement attributed to it.
Mr. Ariwoola reportedly said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the state the CJN originated from, is among the G-5 governors.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode AriwoolaG-5 Governors including Mr Makinde, Nyesom Wike from Rivers State, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) are pushing for the replacement of PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu with someone from Southern Nigeria following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate for next year's election.
Mr Ayu and Atiku are both from the North.
The Supreme Court has since debunked the report.
Supreme Court Director of Information and Press Festus Akande says CJN spoke only briefly at banquet held as part of planned commissioning events for two projects judicial executions by the Rivers State government, and never made the comment credited to him.
The court can no longer be trusted under AriwoolaSpeaking on behalf of the group, Ishaku Balogun, the organizer of the group, said Mr Ariwoola's statement undermines the independence of the judiciary.
He said the CJN had descended into the political arena, adding that Nigerians could no longer be trusted to be non-partisan.
“The independence of the judiciary cannot be considered satisfactory since the CJN has already taken sides in a political dispute within one political party among the 18 others who are sponsoring candidates for the 2023 elections.
“We demand his immediate dismissal as Nigerians no longer have confidence in him as an impartial judge. truncate the good efforts already put in place by the National Assembly.
"The Civil Society Coalition of Nigeria has since analyzed its statements during commissioning and has come to the conclusion that democracy is indeed at risk," he said.
Mr. Balogun added that “the CJN should resign, failing which our coalition will press every legitimate means through the revolt of the citizens to leave the exalted, impartial and independent post of Chief Justice of Nigeria.”
He also alleged that the group also staged a protest on Tuesday, but they were dispersed by police.
“A few days ago, we came out to save our hard-fought democracy. The Nigerian police men unleashed on us s...
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