The statement said no single Justice of the Supreme Court has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of the court has written any letter of protest whatsoever.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola was not interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged political remarks, the Supreme Court has said.
The statement by the Supreme Court followed a publication by an online news platform that Justice Ariwoola was grilled by DSS over his alleged political remarks in Port Harcourt at a public function.
The apex court’s Director of Information and Press, Festus Akande, said the report was false.
His statement read in part, “We have read with dismay and shock a publication with the above caption by an online media outfit, ‘People’s Gazette,’ alleging that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was grilled by the DSS for the remarks he made in ‘Port Harcourt at a state banquet’ and that ‘five Justices of Supreme Court are calling for his resignation.’
“Just like our earlier press statement debunking this barefaced falsehood and mischievous antics aimed at scoring very cheap and unpopular political gains in this era of aggressive and mudslinging politicking.
“We wish to state in very clear and unmistaken terms, that this is yet another round of the avalanche of lies that have been disingenuously packaged by individuals with unenviable pedigree to malign the character and personality of not just the CJN but several other Judicial Officers.
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“It has become very obvious that those with sinister motives have perfected plans to unleash all manner of coordinated attacks on Judicial officers, starting from the CJN with a view to arm-twisting and blackmailing and ridiculing them to silence, ultimately for their ulterior motives.
“For sure, it will only take an undiscerning mind to believe this string of falsehood, misinformation and blackmail.”
Akande said the publication was laced with lies and unsubstantiated claims.
“For the records, no single Justice of the Supreme Court has asked the CJN to resign, and no Justice of Supreme Court has or is writing any letter of protest whatsoever,” he added.
“This stream of falsehood, as usual, is flowing from the same discredited source that is hell-bent on destroying the Judiciary for some selfish interest.”
He added that “neither the CJN nor the Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court or other Courts for that matter, are politicians, so, none of them should be dragged into politics in any form whatsoever.”
