A detachment of anti-riot policemen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Tuesday dispersed some protesters who thronged the Unity Fountain in protest of an alleged ‘political comment’ by the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The protesters christened Coalition of Civil Societies of Nigeria (CCSN) had begun their protest from the Unity Fountain and were heading towards the Supreme Court before they were stopped around the Federal Ministry of Justice by policemen led by a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Altine Hyelhira Daniel.
The policemen fired teargas canisters at the protesters, a situation which made them scamper to safety.
The embattled CJN was accused of dabbling into partisan affairs.
The protesters made particular references to his statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital while being a guest of Gov. Nyesom Wike.
Blueprint recalls that the Supreme Court in Abuja had in a statement dissociated the CJN from the political statement.
The Apex Court in its official reaction over the weekend stated 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.
Dated November 26, the Director of Information and Press, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr Festus Akande, accused those crediting the CJN with the comments as merely trying to score cheap goals with the remarks of Justice Ariwoola at the public function in Port Harcourt, River State.
“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 clearly that the CJN, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON had never at any point said such during his brief remarks at the State Banquet organized 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,” the statement reads partly.
