By Abiola Olawale
A former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and International Scholar, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, has chided the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for attending a dinner hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.
The New Diplomat reports that Sanwo-Olu hosted a dinner party in honour of Kekere-Ekun who became the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria in September 2024.
During the party, the Lagos Governor praised her as a “proud daughter of Lagos” for her pioneering role as the second woman to hold Nigeria’s highest judicial office.
However, Odinkalu, a Professor of Practice in International Human Rights Law at the Fletcher School at Tufts University, wondered why the country’s CJN was partying with the Lagos State Governor, whom he described as a litigant in her Court.
Odinkalu, in a post on X, faulted CJN Kekere-Ekun for appearing at the diner and fraternizing with Sanwo-Olu whom he said is a litigant in her court.
He said: “I suspect someone will tell me Madam CJN’s memory is wonky. If not, then how did she forget that the governor of Lagos State is a litigant before her @SupremeCourtNg? How can she call younger judges to order when they fraternize in this manner or she just plainly can’t see it?!”
While Odinkalu did not state what case Sanwo-Olu is involved in the court of Justice Kekere-Ekun, rule 1.4 of the Code of Conduct for judges stipulates that: “The Judge must be sensitive to the need to avoid contacts that may lead people to speculate that there is a special relationship between him and someone whom the Judge may be tempted to favour in some way in the course of his judicial duties.”
