A social justice group, Centre for Democracy and Development has come out to say that following happenings in recent times at the Supreme Court, all is not well at the highest court in the land.

The group recently had its say via a press statement, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to the group, there have been allegations, rumours and innuendos in connection with the former CJN, including rumours of bribery and undue interference of his family in the work of the Supreme Court that we must all pay detailed attention to.

The group added that there is strong evidence of the Executive getting involved in activities that interfere with the independence of the judiciary, and something must be done to correct that.

It read, “There have been allegations, rumours and innuendos in connection with the former CJN, including rumours of bribery and undue interference of his family in the work of the Supreme Court. Although there is no evidence to back this, the speculations suggest that he did not resign of his own volition.”

“We can surmise from these that all is not well with the Supreme Court. It would be recalled that CJN Tanko Muhammad’s predecessor, Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, was suspended on January 25, 2019, following a questionable prosecution by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, at a time also when the residences of several judges, including Justices of the Supreme Court, were raided by security operatives.”

“There is strong evidence of the Executive getting involved in activities that interfere with the independence of the judiciary. In other words, there is a challenge to the constitutional principle of separation of powers and the integrity and independence of the judiciary. The not-so-hidden hands of the Presidency have also been often seen in the appointment and removal of judicial officers. Indeed, the same can be said of the relationship between State Governors and the judiciary at the state level.”