Supreme Court dissociates CJN, Ariwoola from political comments on PDP’s G-5 Governors

The Supreme Court on Saturday in Abuja dissociated the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, from a political statement on the activities of the five Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), otherwise known as G-5 Governors.

The Apex Court, in the first official reaction, said unequivocally that Justice Ariwoola never made any comments to the effect that he was happy that his home state governor, Seyi Makinde, is among the G-5 Governors.

A statement by the Director of Information and Press, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr Festus Akande, said that those crediting the CJN with the comments were just out to score cheap goals with the remarks of Justice Ariwoola at a public function in Port Harcourt, River State.

The statement dated November 26 read in part, “Our attention has been drawn to a publication with the caption “I am happy, Makinde is among G-5 Governors” making the rounds in both conventional and social media.

“We wish to state unequivocally clear that the CJN, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, had never at any point said such during his brief remarks at the State Banquet organised as part of the events lined up for the commissioning of the two Judiciary projects undertaken by the Rivers State Government.

“Issues bordering on misconceptions and misrepresentations of this nature are not always strange in times like this when the country is preparing for general elections, as some people may want to take advantage of every opportunity to score very cheap goals.

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

“People say whatever they choose to say, just to please their selfish interests and inordinate desires