Alleged Partisanship: CJN Ariwoola Must Go, CSOs Insist

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have maintained their ground on the call for the removal of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola, over alleged partisanship.

The CSOs under the aegis of Coalition of Civil Societies of Nigeria (CCSN) insisted that the CJN must resign following a political comment he made in Rivers State recently.

The CSOs which had embarked on a peaceful protest to the Supreme Court last week were forcefully dispersed by a detachment of anti-riot policemen of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police.

The coalition had also embarked on a protest march to the National Assembly over what they described as the seeming partisanship of the CJN, even as they demanded Ariwoola’s sack if he refused to resign.

The coalition is made up of 18 CSOs among which are Civil Society Forum of Nigeria, Nigeria Youth Development Forum, Democratic Youth Initiative, Forum for Social Justice, Movement for the Development of Democracy and Safeguard Nigeria Movement.

Others are Alliance for People’s Welfare, Forward Nigeria Movement, Human Right Crusaders, Defenders of Democracy, Democratic Rights Assembly and Voters Rights Assembly.

Addressing another press conference Tuesday in Abuja, the coalition’s team leader, Olayinka Dada, said they have outlined measures and legitimate means through which the CJN should he fail to resign will leave office.