Odinkalu laments again, says ‘I never thought I’ll ever be alive to see a CJN attend ‘owambe’ with a litigant’

Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has again criticized the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for attending a dinner hosted by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, saying he never thought he would ever witness such in his lifetime.

 

Odinkalu doubled down on his criticism of the CJN following attempts to defend her action by supporters of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu who hosted the dinner.

 

 

Odinkalu said: “Let me help them with oxygen. It’s a Monday. I’m in generous mood and I never thought I would be alive to see the fate of an independent judiciary reduced to the right of the #CJN to attend #owanbe with a litigant before her court. We are making progress!”

 

The Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday hosted a dinner to honour Justice Kekere-Ekun, describing her as a “proud daughter of Lagos” for her pioneering role as the second woman to hold Nigeria’s highest judicial office.

 

But Odinkalu faulted the CJN, saying “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?!”

 

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.”