INTEGRITY GROUP

CJN ON G5 GOVS: CONFUSION, AS VIDEO SURFACES (VIDEO)

A video now trending online has thrown spanner in the works of the statement by the Supreme Court that Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola (GCON) did not express happiness over membership of the “Integrity Group” by his Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

CITY LAWYER recalls that controversy has trailed the alleged comment by Justice Ariwoola that he was glad that Makinde is a member of the break-away group of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors spearheaded by Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.

A statement by the Director of Information and Press, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr Festus Akande had dismissed the allegation as the handiwork of desperate politicians and mischief makers in the run-up to the 2023 General Elections.

According to the statement, “We can’t really pinpoint where such barefaced falsehood is coming from, and certainly, we don’t also know at what point the CJN said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was a member of the now christened “Integrity Group” or “G-5 Governors.”

Continuing, the statement added: “Similarly, he said he was very surprised to see the “G-5 Governors” (“Integrity Group Governors”), just as he equally expressed the same surprise when he saw them in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the reception organised in his honour by his state government in October 2022.
“His surprise particularly stemmed from the fact that he saw his own State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde (who incidentally is a member of the “G-5 Governors”) at the Port Harcourt occasion.”

However, the video obtained by CITY LAWYER shows that while the Chief Justice of Nigeria was clearly speaking jocularly about Makinde’s relationship with Wike, he stated that he was “happy that my own Governor is one (of the G5 Governors.”

His words: “I understand he (Governor Wike) will continue to commission projects till his last day in office. There are projects wide open all over the place.

“And that’s why we should not be scared to have these men of Integrity Group. And I am happy that my own Governor is one because, you know, he will try to imitate his friend and in-law because we came here to marry for my Governor.

“His Excellency, Governor Wike will always threaten that he will call back his sister if my Governor fails to play ball. And that’s why if you see him following His Excellency (laughs), my Governor is afraid of his wife being recalled.”

Meanwhile, a leading criminal trial lawyer, Mr. Ahmed Raji SAN has also dissociated Justice Ariwoola from the controversial statement, saying that the Chief Justice of Nigeria only joked about the closeness that existed between the Wike and Makinde.

According to Raji who is also the President of Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF), the umbrella body of indigenes of Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, “I was at the said occasion at Port Harcourt and there was never a time the Chief Justice of the Federation said anything about being in support of the group of PDP five governors, he only made jokes about how the closeness between the Oyo State governor and governor Wike is strong which he attributed to the fact that governor Wike is the in-law of Seyi Makinde.

“For anybody to think the Chief Justice of the Federation will come down to such level as discussing party issues is ridiculous, I enjoin media organizations to please scrutinize information their reporters bring to them to avoid creating crisis and smear the images of people.”

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‘NIGERIAN JUDICIARY IS NOT CORRUPT,’ SAYS MAIKYAU

PRESS RELEASE

NBA PRESIDENT DECRIES THE NARRATIVE THAT THE NIGERIAN JUDICIARY IS CORRUPT, URGES IMPROVED WELFARE OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN OON has declared that the Nigerian judiciary is not corrupt and that the legal profession in Nigeria cannot be compromised. In his address at the valedictory court session held on 20th October, 2022 in honour of Hon. Justice Mojeed Adekunle Owoade, retired Justice of the Court of Appeal at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, the NBA President decried the narratives that Nigerian judges are corrupt and can be compromised.

In his words, “The fact that there may be some bad eggs amongst us, and this I say for both the Bench and the Bar, does not justify the characterization of the entire judiciary and the legal profession as generally corrupt. The judiciary and indeed the legal profession in Nigeria consist of distinguished men and women that have worked and are still working honestly, sincerely and with integrity to contribute their quota to the development of this nation.”

He also stated that, “the fact that the toe in a body has turned gangrenous does not make the entire body rotten. And if the toe is so infected, the way to save the body is to amputate the toe. That is what we must do as members of the legal profession; either on the Bench or Bar and we must speak loudly to the nation about who we truly are, to correct that negative perception. If we do not do so, it will be an abdication of duty on our part, and if we completely lose the confidence of the public, resort to self-help and the attendant chaos will be inevitable. We must break the silence!”

While acknowledging that the challenges faced in the system of administration of justice in Nigeria include the issue of manpower at the Bench, the NBA President also urged for better Conditions of Service for judicial officers.

Mr. Maikyau described Hon. Justice Owoade (rtd) as one of the numerous examples of integrity, honesty and excellence in the legal profession and congratulated the jurist on the excellent service record and glorious exit from the Bench.

Akorede Habeeb Lawal
National Publicity Secretary

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‘YOU’RE A GROUP OF EXCELLENT LEGAL MINDS,’ EDE ASENOGUAN TELLS INTEGRITY GROUP

ASENOGUAN OSAMUEDE ISOBOMUWA VISITS INTEGRITY GROUP, PORT HARCOURT; EXPRESSES PROFOUND GRATITUDE FOR WARM RECEPTION

Mr Asenoguan Osamuede Isobomuwa, a prominent candidate for NBA General Secretary, paid a visit to the Integrity Group Port Harcourt (a notable set of excellence driven lawyers within the NBA) at its meeting which held on the 12th of July, 2022.

Sequel to the warm reception and hospitality accorded the consummate barman, he penned down a note of appreciation to the body, same is represented below.

The Chairman,
Integrity group,
Port Harcourt,
Rivers State.

Dear Sir,

RE: MY VISIT TO YOUR RENOWNED BODY; A NOTE OF APPRECIATION

The above subject matter refers.

I wish to most delightedly express my profound gratitude to you, the executives and members of your distinguished body for the warm reception you accorded me at my last visit.

My visit to you afforded me the opportunity to behold firsthand the organizational prowess your group is renowned for. You are indeed a group of excellent legal minds. I look forward to working very closely with you, especially in my proposed service to the Bar, God willing.

Thank you once more.

Yours faithfully,

Asenoguan Osamuede Isobomuwa
Candidate for NBA General Secretary 2022-2024

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