*Criticizes Prof. Odinkalu For Not Verifying Facts Before Going Public
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Criticizes Prof. Odinkalu For Not Verifying Facts Before Going PublicRenowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday O. Ubani, has strongly refuted what he described as “false, mischievous, and regrettable” reports linking Supreme Court Justice Inyang Okoro, JSC CFR, to alleged judicial impropriety during a recent visit to Benin City.
In a statement titled “Setting the Records Straight: Visit of Honourable Justice Inyang Okoro, JSC CFR to Benin City,” Dr. Ubani clarified that Justice Okoro’s presence in Benin on June 12 and 13, 2025, was purely for the burial of Mrs. Caroline Uwaifo, mother of Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo, former President of the African Bar Association.
“I know for a fact that Honourable Justice Inyang Okoro, JSC CFR, was in Benin to attend the burial ceremony of the mother of my very dear friend, Hannibal Uwaifo, as an invited guest,” Ubani stated, adding that the Justice attended both the service of songs and the funeral service. “The only event I did not see His Lordship attend was the reception which followed the interment,” he noted.
Dr. Ubani described recent insinuations attempting to link Justice Okoro’s visit to the pending Edo State governorship appeal at the Supreme Court as “asinine” and indicative of a coordinated smear campaign.
“To suggest that His Lordship left Abuja to lobby for inclusion in the appeal panel is not only baseless but also preposterous,” Ubani said. “Has the Chief Justice of Nigeria even empaneled the Justices to hear the appeal? Or is this a preemptive strike to blackmail Justice Okoro out of consideration?”
The clarification comes on the heels of allegations made by prominent human rights advocate, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, who claimed that Justice Okoro was seen at the Protea Hotel in Benin in the company of the Edo State Attorney General, Dr. Samson Osagie, on the night of June 13 — just days after the PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, filed an appeal at the Supreme Court challenging Governor Monday Okpebholo’s election.
Prof. Odinkalu, who posted a video clip purportedly showing Justice Okoro at the hotel, questioned the timing and nature of the encounter, raising concerns about propriety and the appearance of impartiality in judicial conduct.
However, both Dr. Ubani and the Edo State Attorney General have flatly denied any impropriety. Dr. Osagie earlier stated that he did not meet with any judicial officer and dismissed the report as fiction.
“It is instructive that these reports failed to mention that Justice Okoro was at a public burial ceremony for our mutual friend’s mother — an event that was attended by many and conducted in broad daylight,” Dr. Ubani said. “His Lordship did not sneak into Benin. He was not in disguise.”
He also criticized Prof. Odinkalu for failing to verify facts, noting that as a friend of Mr. Uwaifo, he could have easily confirmed the Justice’s purpose for being in Benin.
“I am surprised that my good friend and brother, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, did not reach out to Hannibal before going public. This is not how we protect or promote judicial integrity,” Ubani added.
However, the statement has also attracted reactions from some observers who question why Dr. Ubani has repeatedly taken it upon himself to speak on behalf of high-ranking judicial and political figures. Critics have begun referring to him as a “spokesperson” of both the Senate President and the Supreme Court, urging him to confine his public interventions to matters within his personal knowledge. They argue that since Justice Okoro is alive and capable of responding, he should be allowed to speak for himself, especially on matters as sensitive as this.
Dr. Ubani emphasized the dangers of unfounded attacks on the judiciary and urged members of the legal profession to refrain from joining public campaigns that undermine confidence in the courts without proof.
“We all lose when we denigrate our revered temple of justice without basis,” he warned. “This is clearly one of those instances of unwarranted and destructive vilification.”
The Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council (NJC) have yet to comment on the matter.
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