Odinkalu Criticizes CJN for Attending Wike’s Construction Launch, Citing Need for Judicial Impartiality

Law professor and former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Chidi Odinkalu, recently criticized Nigeria’s Chief Justice (CJN) on his official X account (formerly Twitter). His critique was directed at the CJN’s attendance at an event organized by Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, raising concerns about potential judicial bias.

This controversy unfolded when Wike invited the CJN to the launch of a new construction project in Abuja. The project includes building housing for judges on land previously owned by construction giant Julius Berger, which had its land rights revoked by Wike to accommodate the development.

Odinkalu expressed concern over the CJN’s presence at the event, noting that if Julius Berger were to challenge the land revocation in court, the judiciary’s apparent closeness to the FCT Minister could erode public confidence in its impartiality.Referencing the Judicial Code of Conduct, Odinkalu highlighted the rule that judges should avoid close relationships with frequent litigants, including government ministers, to prevent any appearance of partiality.

He cited Rule 2.8, emphasizing the need for judges to maintain an unbiased stance.Odinkalu’s remarks reflect a wider concern among Nigerians about judicial independence, with many questioning the judiciary’s ability to impartially handle cases involving government officials when judges are perceived as too closely connected to them.