By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola has dismissed with the wave of the hand talks of controversy in the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
Instead, he said that Supreme Court Justices are one indivisible body that would not be distracted from their noble duties for the good of the country and her citizens.
Ariwoola who spoke to State House Correspondents shortly after he was Sworn in as the Acting CJN on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja, said insisted that there are no controversy at the apex court of the land.
Said he: “There is no controversy at the Supreme Court. We are one with the Chief Justice. That is why you heard the President say the Lordship is disengaging on the grounds of ill health. No controversy; we are one”.
Asked what Nigerians expect from him, he said:”What Nigerians expect from me is to comply, abide and preserve the Constitution of Nigeria. And that is what I will do with the cooperation of my brother justices of the Supreme Court. We shall not fail Nigeria”.
Reminded that he is taking over at the time when there has been some controversy, especially at the Justices Supreme Court and how he intend to handle that, he there is no ill-feelings among the Justices.
Said he: “There is no controversy at the Supreme Court. We are one with the chief justice. That is why you heard the president said the lordship is disengaging on the grounds of ill health. No controversy; we are one”.
Asked about the welfare issues raised in that letter that is now circulated, he insisted that “It was an internal memo of the court. It was not a petition; it was not a letter. It was addressed by the brother justices of the Chief Justice and was presented to him, His Lordship, directly. They were issues to be resolved amongst the justices”.
Asked if he expects the issues to be resolved under his leadership, he said
“Yes, we have started resolving them”.
