By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA—Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, yesterday, gave security agencies in the country the nod to investigate allegation that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State bought Justice from Supreme Court after killings in his home state of Rivers.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,

The CJN, who is currently attending a conference in Canada, said his attention was drawn to reports concerning allegation by one Joe Igbokwe to the effect that Wike bought Justice from the apex court after killings in his home state.

Justice Onnoghen decried that such denigrating allegation was capable of degrading the judiciary as an institution, and urged security and relevant anti-corruption agencies in the country to commence investigations, with a view to identifying the said Justices of the Supreme Court.

However, the CJN maintained that security agencies were duty bound to take necessary steps against Igbokwe if his allegation was found to be false, so as to protect the institution of the state.

A statement signed by media aide to the CJN, Mr. Awassam Bassey, read:  “The attention of the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, has been drawn to media reports about allegations by a certain Joe Igbokwe, to the effect that Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, buys justice from the Supreme Court after killings in his home state of Rivers.

“The comment, which states inter alia: ‘Wike will not have the audacity and temerity to kill again and run to the Supreme Court to buy justice’, is reportedly contained in a social media platform, which has made its way into online and traditional Nigerian media.

“The implication of this statement is, first and foremost, that Mr. Igbokwe has evidence to show that Mr. Nyesom Wike is a killer, and secondly that upon such killings, the Governor runs to the Supreme Court to buy justice.”