Again, Prof Odinkalu Bemoans Pitiful State Of The Judiciary, Says I" never thought I’ll ever be alive to see a CJN attend ‘owambe’ with a litigant"
Law Professor and former NHRC Chairman Chidi Odinkalu criticizes Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for attending a dinner hosted by Lagos Governor and court litigant, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Odinkalu calls the situation ‘bizarre’ and unprecedented.
A professor of Law and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Chidi Odinkalu, has lamented that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun attended a dinner hosted by a litigant in his court and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, noting that he never imagined he would be alive to witness such bizzare situation.
Odinkalu who reiterated his criticism of Kekere-Ekun, following attempts to defend her action by supporters of Sanwo-Olu who hosted the dinner.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, had on Sunday, hosted a dinner to honour Justice Kekere-Ekun, describing her as a “proud daughter of Lagos” over her pioneering role as the second woman to hold the position of the CJN.
However, Odinkalu lampooned the CJN, adding, “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?!”
According to Odinkalu, 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.”
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