By Ishaya Ibrahim
Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has criticized the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for attending a dinner hosted by the Lagos State Government in her honour.
The Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday during a dinner to honour Justice Kekere-Ekun, praised her as a “proud daughter of Lagos” for the pioneering role as the second woman to hold Nigeria’s highest judicial office.
But Odinkalu, in a post on X, faulted CJN Kekere-Ekun for appearing at the diner and fraternizing with Sanwo-Olu whom he said is a litigant in her court.
He said: I suspect someone will tell me Madam CJN’s memory is wonky. If not, then how did she forget that the governor of Lagos State is a litigant before her @SupremeCourtNg? How can she call younger judges to order when they fraternize in this manner or she just plainly can’t see it?!”
While Odinkalu did not state what case Sanwo-Olu is involved with in the court of Justice Kekere-Ekun, rule 1.4 of the Code of Conduct for judges stipulates that: “The Judge must be sensitive to the need to avoid contacts that may lead people to speculate that there is a special relationship between him and someone whom the Judge may be tempted to favour in some way in the course of his judicial duties.”
