Wike & Appeal court president frolicking in IBB Golf Club, Abuja is nothing but judicial malpractices —Professor Odinkalu

Former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to address what he described as accessorization of judicial officers by Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

At an event held at the IBB Golf Club in Abuja on Friday, Wike was seen in the company of Appeal Court President, Monica Dongban Mensem seated in close proximity, reports TheNiche.

A week earlier, Wike and a Supreme Court jurist, Justice Emmanuel Agim were both guests of the University of Calabar to receive honourary doctoral degrees.

The Supreme Court later issued a statement countering claims that Justice Agim accompanied Wike to the event.

Odinkalu, in a post on Saturday urged the NBA to address the issue of Wike found in the circles of judges.

Odinkalu said: “The presence of FCT Minister @GovWike & @CourtOfAppealNG president, Monica Dongban Mensem at that event in IBB Golf Club in Abuja yesterday was judicial malpractice & influence peddling. Wike knew he was not supposed to be there. There are cases in court. They went chose to defy.

“The @NigBarAssoc under @afamosigwe has a duty to address the brazen accessorization of judicial officers by @GovWike, & @njcNig is failing manifestly in its duty to address the impunity of judges who violate clear provisions of the judicial Code of Conduct of 2016.”

Wike had earlier appealed to the Body of Benchers to take disciplinary measures against Odinkalu over his criticism of judges.