Okutepa, SAN To Politicians: CJN Is Not An Office To Use In Scoring Cheap Political Debates

* Says Nigerian Politicians Do Not Love The Judiciary *Claims Nigerian Politicians Are Using The Unreasonable Arraignment For Their Political Advantage *Says CJN Is Not Sectional A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, J.S. Okutepa, SAN, has asked Nigerian politicians to stop using the issue of the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Walter Onnoghen, to score cheap political debates. The Learned Silk made this statement whilst reacting to some statements made by some politicians for and against the the trial. According to him, the current travail of our judiciary is caused by Nigerian politicians in the Executive and Legislative arms, adding that, these politicians involved do not in anyway love the Judiciary. He also questioned the love they claim to have for the Judiciary, stressing that Nigerian politicians are the ones that put the judiciary and judicial officers in trouble all the time, using some unscrupulous legal practitioners as tools. ”How I wish Nigerian politicians can leave the Nigerian judiciary alone! Since the incident of the unreasonable arraignment of the Honourable Chief Justice before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I have read and still reading very reckless and irresponsible partisan press statements from some Nigerian politicians who do not mean well for the judiciary and our judicial system. ”The current travail of our judiciary is caused by Nigerian politicians in the Executive and Legislative arms. It is the politicians who have starved and are still starving the judiciary of the necessary tools to work. Nigerian politicians are the ones that put our judiciary and judicial officers in trouble all the time, using some unscrupulous legal practitioners as tools. When do they become lovers of our judiciary?,” he asked. Speaking further, he said that the CJN of Nigeria, though may come from a part of Nigeria, is not a sectional CJN. According to him, he is the CJN and that is the oath of office he took, stressing that the CJN is the property of Nigeria. He also said we must not desecrate that Hallow office and the occupant of the office, as the said office is not occupied by a political tout. ”All those politicians who are pretending to love the CJN more than the other politicians are just pontificating, and clearly do not have the love of the CJN and judiciary at heart. I am not speaking for the CJN, but I know our CJN does not need their tainted partisan ownership. ”The CJN of Nigeria, though may come from a part of Nigeria, is not a sectional CJN. He is the CJN and that is the oath of office he took. The CJN is the property of Nigeria. ”We must not desecrate that Hallow office and the occupant of the office. The office of the CJN is not an office occupied by a political tout. That office is not an office to use in scoring cheap political debates,” he said. He finally warned those who think they can use the current unreasonable arraignment as political advantage for their campaigns to leave the office alone. ”Those who think that the current unreasonable arraignment of CJN before the CCT can add colour and political advantage to them should please leave the CJN and that office and go out to campaign for votes. ”Enough of miscreants masquerading as politicians, using the arraignment of CJN to score debating points. Enough of this nonsense of alarming press statements from politicians,” he added.]]>