Why I visited CJN - Wike

As controversy continued to greet the visit of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, the Rivers State government on Tuesday, said the visit was to facilitate reappointment of the acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daisy Okocha and the acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Nwankwo, whose tenures will expire by the end of August.

A statement signed by media aide to the governor, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Governor Wike visited the CJN since he is the Chairman of the National Judicial Council, NJC.



The All Progressives Congress, APC, had in a statement by its publicity secretary in Rivers state, Chris Finebone dismissed as untrue that the visit of the governor was in connection with issues relating to appointment of the two chief law officers in the state.

“The excuse by the governor that his visit had something to do with the matter of appointment of Chief Justice for Rivers State flies in the face. That was a mere facade. 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,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wike’s media aide said the governor had to formerly write to the CJN on the issues that took him to the office when he could not see him physically, stressing that there was noting wrong for a governor who is also a member of the Body of Benchers to see the CJN on issues relating to administration of Justice in his state.

“While it is true that the Governor went to see the CJN on the 7th and 9th of July 2015, his mission 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 and also the acting president of the Customary Court of Appeal.”