Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has paid two visits to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, at the Supreme Court, Abuja, this month, officials have said. One of the visits to the CJN, it was learnt, coincided with the day the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, conducted hearing in an application filed by Wike to challenge an order permitting his opponent to inspect the electoral materials used for the poll that brought him to office. Investigations by our correspondent in Abuja showed that the visits were made without prior appointments. The election of the former education minister, who ran for the governorship on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, is being challenged by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Dakuku Peterside. The Rivers State Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal had on July 9 reaffirmed its ex parte order made on June 11, 2015, granting permission to Peterside, to inspect the electoral materials used for the poll. Peterside and the APC had on May 3, 2015, filed their petition before the tribunal to challenge the victory of Wike at the poll. The Justice Muazu Pindiga-led tribunal had in a ruling dismissed Wike’s application asking for the setting aside of the June 11, 2015 order. The judge also adjourned till July 22 for the commencement of the pre-hearing session in the petition. Wike has however denied that his visit to the CJN had anything to do with his case. Our correspondent learnt that Wike did not meet the CJN on his first visit, which was a Monday. The number one judicial officer in the country was said to have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj. Wike however repeated the visit two days later, when he was able to discuss with the CJN. A source in the governor’s entourage, disclosed to our correspondent that the members of staff in the office of Mohammed were shocked to see the governor. The source said, “There was no proper appointment because as soon as the governor stepped in and said he would like to see the CJN and was asked if it was on appointment, he answered in the negative. “Nevertheless, he was allowed to see the CJN; but unfortunately, the CJN was not in the country as he was in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.” The Publicity Secretary of APC in Rivers State, Chief Chris Finebone, said the visit was curious. Finebone said though his party believed that the person of the CJN was beyond compromise, he nevertheless wondered why Wike refused to carry the media along during the visits. He said, “We have no cause to doubt the integrity of the CJN, but we must say that the visits must have been made open and known to Nigerians. Why was it not made known? “Wike believes that every human being has a price. His problem is just to identify the price. His case is pending and he refused to go with the media during the visits. “We want to believe that the visits didn’t happen and if it happened, he must tell Nigerians why he chose to embark on the visit without the media.” He called on Nigerians and the people of Rivers to monitor the activities of the governor. Reacting to the visit, the national leadership of the PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, said there was nothing wrong with the visits. Metuh said that the governor had the right to pay official visit to the CJN, adding that he (Wike) should not be vilified because of that. “Yes, he has the right to pay official visit or courtesy calls on the CJN and I see nothing wrong with that,” he said. Wike, while denying going to lobby the CJN for his pending tribunal case, told our correspondent that he was at the office because of the issue surrounding the appointment of the acting Chief Justice of Rivers State. He said since the acting Chief Judge of his state was appointed about three months ago, there was the need to seek the permission of the National Judicial Council to approve and renew the appointment. Wike said, “I didn’t go there to lobby for anything cynical. If I was going to lobby for anything like that, would I go in the afternoon? “You may wish to know that we have an acting Chief Judge in my state, and the judiciary is already on vacation and that the NJC may also be on vacation. “So, I needed to do a letter to the NJC on the need to extend or approve the appointment of the acting CJ in my state. I went there on the two days in daytime; and see Nigerians, they are already imputing another meaning to the visits.” source. http://www.punchng.com/news/wike-visits-cjn-twice-in-one-month/

CJN should be called to order and monitor very well. It was Wike in 2007, using the most corrupt attorney general of the federation under Yaradua to broker the infamous supreme court verdict of 2007 which took out Celestine Omehia and installed Rotimi Amaechi. The supreme court has continue to tuck that verdict out of reference because it was not base on law. It is this faith that makes Wike’s stomach political followers believe that if he did it in 2007 for Amaechi who was currently in Ghana, he could do it for himself too. Our Judiciary system has no shame, are always in the pocket of corrupt politicians to do havoc on the poor. Wike used Jonathan’s wife imposing himself as PDP flag bearer, and use the police and INEC to write bogus result for himself and killed who ever stood in his way, using militants in rivers state. He must pay for the blood that flow in this families.

Wike should know that as a party to a suit, he shouldn't maintain contact with the CJN without the other party being present. Such visits, if true; could compromise the independence of the Judiciary with perceived likelyhood for bias.

CJN will have to play smart if he doesn't want to be impeached or sacked as sack is rocking the nation.

This is really shocking and I expected Wike to know better. His visit was simply inauspicious.

I thought it was another alarm until the man confirmed it himself. No crime vising the CJN, but this is wrongly timed.

This will raise plenty dust and trust me, APC will not back off until they make political capital out of it.

Hope this doesn't consume the CJN. He should be weary of politicians. They don't care about morals

I hope he is not trying to influence the selection of the judges for the appeal and supreme courts, looking for judges he can easily buy with the support of Mary Odili.
Does he need to visit the CJN in person to discuss the issue of the chief Judge in Rivers state? That case is already in a court. Besides a letter from the RSG through the attorney general and commissioner of justice would have conveyed the message to the CJN.
Well, let's see if everyone in Nigeria has a price tag and can be bought by Wike.

The same way this same Wike was found to be inside INEC office on election day in Rivers State.

I hope the CJN maintains the integrity of his office.

Time, time and time will tell.

With time we will know what the visitation was all about.

God bless Nigeria

We are watching in HD

Chiefpriest1:
This is really shocking and I expected Wike to know better. His visit was simply inauspicious.

I thought it was another alarm until the man confirmed it himself. No crime vising the CJN, but this is wrongly timed.

This will raise plenty dust and trust me, APC will not back off until they make political capital out of it.

Hope this doesn't consume the CJN. He should be weary of politicians. They don't care about morals

APC or the president has no power to sack the CJN.Nyeson Wike has right to freedom of movement and association and so also is the CJN.

in the fear of ....

chukwudi44:


APC or the president has no power to sack the CJN.Nyeson Wike has right to freedom of movement and association and so also is the CJN.

who now have the right to sack CJN ? I'm sure is not your papa rather is Jonathan

Wike shld hv booked an official appointment n carry d media along to ward off this kind of suspicion n accusations

Even if Wicked Wike likes let him visit CJN 20 times he is going down with Mama Shepopotemus !!!

Wike why

Chiefpriest1:
This is really shocking and I expected Wike to know better. His visit was simply inauspicious.

I thought it was another alarm until the man confirmed it himself. No crime vising the CJN, but this is wrongly timed.

This will raise plenty dust and trust me, APC will not back off until they make political capital out of it.

Hope this doesn't consume the CJN. He should be weary of politicians. They don't care about morals

I wish that chest beating nairaland warrior call Barcanista could reason like this. Why visit the CJN at this time and his excuse is as pathetic as it can get.

chukwudi44:


APC or the president has no power to sack the CJN.Nyeson Wike has right to freedom of movement and association and so also is the CJN.

It is so shocking how much of an hypocrite you are. Be honest, if it was Peterside that was found in the CJN's office, will you be spewing this nonsense?

arsetalks:
It is so shocking how much of an hypocrite you are. Be honest, if it was Peterside that was found in the CJN's office, will you be spewing this nonsense?

Chukwudi will grow old without growing up.

docadams:


Chukwudi will grow old without growing up.

WOW. No truer thing has ever been said in the history of the world. Genius.

ORACLE1975:
CJN should be called to order and monitor very well. It
was Wike in 2007, using the most corrupt attorney
general of the federation under Yaradua to broker the
infamous supreme court verdict of 2007 which took out
Celestine Omehia and installed Rotimi Amaechi. The
supreme court has continue to tuck that verdict out of
reference because it was not base on law. It is this faith
that makes Wike’s stomach political followers believe
that if he did it in 2007 for Amaechi who was currently
in Ghana, he could do it for himself too. Our Judiciary
system has no shame, are always in the pocket of
corrupt politicians to do havoc on the poor. Wike used
Jonathan’s wife imposing himself as PDP flag bearer,
and use the police and INEC to write bogus result for
himself and killed who ever stood in his way, using
militants in rivers state. He must pay for the blood that
flow in this families.

Too much grammer,pay for what? We Voted PDP in Rivers state,if elections is conducted again,PDP would stil win!

Wike likes the backdoor games, CJN was part of GEJ's administration. Any appearance of disloyalty will cost him his Job.