Rivers: 'When The NJC Recommended Him As CJ, I Refused That He Would Not Be Sworn In' -Nyesom Wike
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has raised serious concerns about Justice Stephen Jumbo's credibility following the judge's recent ruling that nullified the Rivers State PDP Congress.
During a media parley with TVC, Wike revealed his past opposition to Jumbo's judicial appointment: "When the NJC recommended him as CJ, I refused that he would not be sworn in."
The minister detailed historical context from his governorship tenure: "When the state high court was locked up by my predecessor, this judge was the deputy chief judge of the customary court of appeal, Stephen Jumbo."
Wike described concerning practices he encountered upon taking office: "When I came as Governor, Justice OCJ Okocha became the chief judge, and we saw how monies were being shared. They divided the judges - these judges are loyal, and these judges are not loyal. They were paying allowances to these judges and not paying to these judges."
The minister highlighted financial irregularities that prompted his intervention: "The JSC indicted this judge, Jumbo, because if you look at the funds of the court that were spent when the court was not in session, you begin to ask the question: who was spending this money when the court was not in session for two years?"
Wike highlighted his subsequent actions to ensure that the Judge was not brought back to the office: "I wrote to the NJC and said, 'No, this cannot be allowed.'" However, he noted recent developments following his departure from office as governor: "Now that I left office, the present Chief Judge went back to say that the state was not opposing the appeal, and they say, 'Oh, the man (Stephen Jumbo) has won.'"
The minister concluded by suggesting political motivation behind recent rulings that favours Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the state high Court of Justice Stephen Jumbo.