Civil rights group, yesterday, embarked on a protest over alleged abuse of office and favouritism by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.
The group claimed the CJN breached Rule 11 (iv) and other extant provisions of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers when he appointed his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Junior, as a judge of the Federal High Court and nominated his daughter, Oluwakemi Victoria Ariwoola, as a judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court.
Recall that the CJN, since last year, had been under criticism following the appointment of his son as a judicial officer. However, at the protest staged on the road leading to the Supreme Court, the group demanded the immediate resignation of the CJN, to maintain the integrity of the judicial system.
The group members carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “CJN should resign now, stop judicial rascality, say no to nepotism, judicial accountability is a must”. They alleged that the CJN conferred undue advantages on his family members through his position as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), among others.
The group, Civil Society Consortium on Judicial Accountability (CSCJA), told journalists in Abuja that their demand for the resignation of the CJN underscored the importance of judicial accountability and impartiality in maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of the legal system.
According to the coordinator of the group, Mr Martin Obono, the CJN presided over the 103th Meeting of the National Judicial Council that recommended Olukayode Ariwoola Junior for appointment as a Judge of the Federal High Court.
Meanwhile, the group has called for an independent inquiry into the allegations of nepotism and favouritism.
