The Civil Society Consortium on Judicial Accountability (CSCJA) has called for the immediate resignation of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), citing allegations of office abuse and favoritism in his professional conduct.

In a demonstration held near the Supreme Court, the group, comprising lawyers with a focus on public interest, expressed their discontent with the CJN’s appointment of his own children as judicial officers in recent appointments. The protesters accused the CJN of appointing his son, Olukayode Ariwoola Junior, as a Judge of the Federal High Court, and his daughter, Oluwakemi Victoria Ariwoola, as a Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Amongst several grievances, the group alleged that the CJN used his position as chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to recommend his children as High Court Judges, bypassing other deserving candidates. They also claimed that the CJN manipulated the Federal Judicial Service Commission to secure their appointments, disregarding merit-based considerations.

Demonstrators held placards with various messages, including “the CJN should resign now,” “stop judicial rascality,” “say no to nepotism,” and “judicial accountability is a must.”

Following the delivery of a resignation demand letter, the consortium’s coordinator, Mr. Martin Obono, spoke to journalists, emphasizing the need to unbundle the CJN’s office to prevent further abuses.

“The CJN’s appointments have raised serious concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest and the erosion of public confidence in the judiciary,” said Obono. “Furthermore, these appointments violate Rule 11 (iv) of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in Nigeria, which prohibits nepotism and favoritism in administrative duties.”

The consortium stressed the importance of upholding the highest ethical standards in the legal system to ensure fair treatment for all citizens. They argued that judicial appointments based on nepotism not only violate principles but also undermine the rule of law in Nigeria.

Consequently, the protesters demanded that the CJN take immediate responsibility for his actions and resign from his position. They believe this step is necessary to restore public confidence in the judiciary and demonstrate a commitment to ethical governance.

Mr. Obono emphasized the imperative of an unbiased judiciary that avoids personal bias and favoritism to uphold the principles of justice.

Furthermore, the group called for an independent inquiry into the allegations of nepotism and favoritism. They requested an investigation into the appointment of Olukayode Ariwoola Jr. and the nomination of Oluwakemi Victoria Ariwoola to determine if there were other qualified candidates. They also urged Justice Olukayode Ariwoola to recuse himself as Chairman of the National Judicial Council during the investigation, in line with the judicial maxim “nemo judex in causa sua.”

Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Director of Information of the National Judicial Council (NJC), Barrister Soji Oye, were unsuccessful as he was reportedly on annual leave and out of Abuja.