Human rights activist and lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu, has called out the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun for participating in a project flag-off ceremony following the revocation of Julius Berger’s land by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.
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In a series of tweets Today, Odinkalu questioned the CJN’s decision to attend the flag-off ceremony for the construction of judges’ quarters on the land unilaterally revoked by Wike. He cited Rule 2.8 of the Judicial Code of Conduct, which states that “a Judge shall avoid developing excessively close relationships with frequent litigants – such as government ministers or their officials – if such relationships could reasonably create an appearance of partiality.”
Odinkalu argued that the CJN’s presence at the ceremony could undermine public confidence in the judiciary, especially if Julius Berger decides to challenge the land revocation in court. He tweeted, “What confidence would Julius Berger have in the judiciary if it intends to challenge the revocation at the courts when the CJN herself went to flag off the construction?”
The activist’s comments have sparked a debate on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, with many calling for stricter adherence to the Judicial Code of Conduct. Some have also criticized the FCT Minister’s unilateral decision to revoke the land without due process.
The CJN’s office has not yet responded to Odinkalu’s comments or the concerns raised about the potential conflict of interest. The situation has raised questions about the separation of powers and the need for the judiciary to maintain its independence from the executive branch of government.
Recall that TheNigerialawyer in her editorial said, “Moreover, Wike’s revocation of Julius Berger’s land license introduces yet another layer of scandal: Land grabbing. Should the construction company contest the revocation, the case would inevitably go to the courts—courts that now stand to benefit from the same land at the center of the dispute. How can the public trust that such a case would be handled impartially? This is not just a speculative concern but a direct threat to judicial neutrality. And it sends a wrong message to foreign investors: if even the judiciary can be compromised by political power plays, what guarantees are there for fairness in legal disputes involving international businesses?”
As the matter unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Julius Berger will challenge the land revocation in court and how the judiciary will handle the case, given the CJN’s apparent involvement in the project’s flag-off ceremony.
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