THE conflict between a retired judge of a Federal High Court, Justice
Okechukwu Okeke and a serving justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Clara
Ogunbiyi, took a new twist, as the latter stated that her daughter was not the
cause of the travail of the latter.
Justice Ogunbiyi, however, said that she did not at anytime contact retired Justice Okeke, formerly of the Federal High Court Lagos, either directly or indirectly on any matter.
It will be recalled that while speaking at a valedictory held in his honour last month, Justice Okeke accused Justice Ogunbiyi of trying to influence a case involving the convicted former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecelia Ibru.
He also accused Justice Ogunbiyi of being behind his recent travails with the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In an explanation note she sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Justice Ogunbiyi, however, accused Okeke of being economical with the truth.
She further stated that Justice Okeke misled the world into thinking that the NJC issued him a warning letter based on the exparte order he gave, which affected her (Justice Ogunbiyi’s) daughter, Funke Amadi (nee Ogunbiyi).
She said: “It is extremely ridiculous, absurd and malicious for Justice Okeke to insinuate that it is the forgoing circumstances that formed the basis for the warning letter given to him on three petitions deliberated upon by the NJC, which I know nothing about.
“I wish also to state that the alleged petition by all the residents of No. 5A George Street ikoyi to the NJC, has nothing to do with me.”
She also said that she did not ask her daughter to see Justice Okeke and that she did not try to influence Justice Okeke on any matter.
However, Justice Ogunbiyi, said that she contacted the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, after her daughter had narrated her ordeal to her following the exparte order issued by Justice Okeke for the sealing off of her daughter’s residence.
She said: “In view of the grey areas surrounding the case, I, therefore, contacted Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and narrated my daughter’s ordeal and, therefore, enquired about the laws governing Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) case. He remarked that the laws are draconian in their application and he promised to send me a copy, which he did a few days later.”
Justice Ogunbiyi further said: “On the allegation of the encounter between Justice Okeke and my daughter, Funke, in his chambers, I wish to state categorially that I never instructed her to see Justice Okeke for any reason whatsoever. If she had done so in company of the evicted residents of all the flats, she acted on her own volition. She is an adult, a married woman with a family and she has a right to protect the interest of her family.
“I wish to emphasise further that I was reliably informed that my daughter was not on her own while in Justice Okeke’s chambers, but in company of the other residents, their lawyer, and also the lawyer to one of the parties.
“The residents’ lawyer was their spokesman, contrary to the false impression created in Justice Okeke’s speech, in which he painted the picture that my daughter came alone to his chambers.”
Justice Ogunbiyi, however, said that she did not at anytime contact retired Justice Okeke, formerly of the Federal High Court Lagos, either directly or indirectly on any matter.
It will be recalled that while speaking at a valedictory held in his honour last month, Justice Okeke accused Justice Ogunbiyi of trying to influence a case involving the convicted former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Mrs Cecelia Ibru.
He also accused Justice Ogunbiyi of being behind his recent travails with the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In an explanation note she sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, Justice Ogunbiyi, however, accused Okeke of being economical with the truth.
She further stated that Justice Okeke misled the world into thinking that the NJC issued him a warning letter based on the exparte order he gave, which affected her (Justice Ogunbiyi’s) daughter, Funke Amadi (nee Ogunbiyi).
She said: “It is extremely ridiculous, absurd and malicious for Justice Okeke to insinuate that it is the forgoing circumstances that formed the basis for the warning letter given to him on three petitions deliberated upon by the NJC, which I know nothing about.
“I wish also to state that the alleged petition by all the residents of No. 5A George Street ikoyi to the NJC, has nothing to do with me.”
She also said that she did not ask her daughter to see Justice Okeke and that she did not try to influence Justice Okeke on any matter.
However, Justice Ogunbiyi, said that she contacted the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, after her daughter had narrated her ordeal to her following the exparte order issued by Justice Okeke for the sealing off of her daughter’s residence.
She said: “In view of the grey areas surrounding the case, I, therefore, contacted Justice Ibrahim Auta, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and narrated my daughter’s ordeal and, therefore, enquired about the laws governing Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) case. He remarked that the laws are draconian in their application and he promised to send me a copy, which he did a few days later.”
Justice Ogunbiyi further said: “On the allegation of the encounter between Justice Okeke and my daughter, Funke, in his chambers, I wish to state categorially that I never instructed her to see Justice Okeke for any reason whatsoever. If she had done so in company of the evicted residents of all the flats, she acted on her own volition. She is an adult, a married woman with a family and she has a right to protect the interest of her family.
“I wish to emphasise further that I was reliably informed that my daughter was not on her own while in Justice Okeke’s chambers, but in company of the other residents, their lawyer, and also the lawyer to one of the parties.
“The residents’ lawyer was their spokesman, contrary to the false impression created in Justice Okeke’s speech, in which he painted the picture that my daughter came alone to his chambers.”
Tags
Society
We now know that Justice is not always blind
ReplyDeleteWhen a Justice of the Supreme court of Nigeria tells you she went to a judge of a lower juricdiction to make enquiries about the laws govening AMCON.
ReplyDeleteMiLord, your defence is watery and baseless. How could you have siddled up to Justice Auta for help because of an exparte order??
Agreed that your daughter is an adult; shouldn't you have asked her to proceed on appeal if she's dissatisfied with Justice Okeke's order??
Lastly, I want to remind you that this is not the first time that your much touted integrity will be called to question. We'll not hesitate to occupy NJC if it fails to do the needful in your case.
.............I rest my case