Onnoghen Urges DSS, EFCC to Probe Alleged Sales of Justice by S’Court Justices

Warns politicians against maligning judicial officers

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has called on security and anticorruption agencies in the country to commence investigation into allegations that some justices of the apex court are involved in the ‘sale of justice’.

Onnoghen, who was miffed by some reports in the media credited to one Joe Igbokwe, to the effect that Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, buys justice from the Supreme Court after killings in his home state of Rivers, however warned politicians against act of maligning judicial officers, adding that such actions are capable of endangering democracy.

The CJN, in s statement made available to newsmen by his media aide, Awassam Bassey, remarked that murder is a serious offence that cannot be swept under the carpet and urged the agencies to investigate the allegations and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

“The attention of the CJN, Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, has been drawn to media reports about allegations by a certain Joe Igbokwe, to the effect that Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, buys justice from the Supreme Court after killings in his home state of Rivers.

“The comment, which states inter alia: ‘Wike will not have the audacity and temerity to kill again and run to the Supreme Court to buy justice,’ is reportedly contained in a social media platform which has made its way into online and traditional Nigerian media.

“The implication of this statement is, first and foremost, that Igbokwe has evidence to show that Mr. Nyesom Wike is a killer, and secondly that upon such killings, the governor runs to the Supreme Court to buy justice,” the statement read in part.

While the statement noted that no appeal has ever been filed at the Supreme Court wherein Wike was accused of murder, it added that, the agencies have a duty to take necessary steps, in accordance with the law, to protect the institutions of state, if the allegations turns out to be false.