Supreme Court denies comments credited to CJN on Makinde joining DPP G-5 governors

The Supreme Court has denied a comment credited to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, who was allegedly enraptured by a group of five People's Democratic Party (PDP) Governors commonly referred to as G-5 Governors.< /p >

Mr. Ariwola reportedly said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, the state the CJN originated from, is part of the G-5.

G-5 Governors including Mr. Makinde, Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) are pushing for the replacement of the PDP National Chairman , Iyorchia Ayu, by someone from southern Nigeria following the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate for next year's elections.

Led by Mr. Wike, who lost the bid for the PDP presidential ticket to Mr. Abubakar, the G-5 that has rebranded itself as the "Integrity Group," maintains it smacks of injustice both for the party's presidential ticket and for the incoming national party chairman of the North.

The Supreme Court's rebuttal on Saturday follows a statement attributed to Mr. Ariwoola, in which he allegedly endorsed Mr. Makinde's membership as G-5 governors.

A section of the media reported that Mr Ariwoola, in his comment at a dinner hosted by the Rivers State Government in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Friday, said he was happy that Mr. Makinde belonged to the five dissenting governors.

Debunking the report on Saturday, Supreme Court Information and Press Director Festus Akande said the CJN spoke only briefly at the banquet held as part of the events planned for the commissioning of two judicial projects executed by the Rivers state government, and never made the comment attributed to him.

“We wish to state unequivocally that the CJN, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON at no time said this during his brief remarks at the State Banquet held as part of the events scheduled for the commissioning of the two judicial projects undertaken by the Rivers State Government,” the statement read in part.

He added that 'misrepresentation' was always common in Nigeria's election campaigns, adding that "some people may want to take every opportunity to score some very cheap goals".

"As we all know, this is the era of aggressive and even unconventional politics, so there is nothing that will not be heard or seen at this crucial time, especially between now and February. 2023, when the general elections will be held.

"We can't really determine where such a blatant lie came from; and certainly, we also don't know when the CJN said it was happy that State Governor Seyi Makinde 'Oyo is a member of the now dubbed "Integrity Group" or "G-5 Governors," the statement also read.< /p>

The court emphasized that Mr. Ariwoola, as an officer of the court, would not make such "comments or insinuations".

"We would like to set the record straight by specifying that the CJN and other judicial officers from different regions of the country were in Port Harcourt on Thursday and Friday, 24 and 25 November 2022 to order the two buildings to house the Federal Judicial Service Commission South-South Liaison Office and the Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili Judicial Institute, which were conceptualized and constructed by the Rivers State Government.

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"Even at the State Banquet held as part of the events, the CJN made it clear in its brief remarks that it (CJN) was not in Port Harcourt for the State Banquet but merely to command both projects as a mark of honor for the Judiciary and Hon.Judge Mary Peter-Odili, CFR, JSC, Rtd and later returns to Abuja thereafter.

"Similarly, he said he was very surprised to see the 'G-5 Governors' ("Integrity Group Governors"), just as he also expressed the same surprise when he saw them. saw in Ibadan, Oyo State during the r...