As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the challenge to Monday Okpebholo’s victory in the 2024 Edo governorship election, the presence of a controversial judge in Benin has stirred public suspicion.
Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Nigerian Supreme Court, who was previously linked to judicial corruption by the State Security Service (SSS), was seen at the Protea Hotel in Benin, Edo State, on Thursday night.
Eyewitness footage appears to show Mr Okoro at the hotel premises.
Supreme Court insiders have since confirmed that the man in the video was indeed the embattled justice.
Justice Okoro’s presence in Benin has raised concerns due to its timing, just as opposition parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), prepare to escalate their legal challenge over the state’s recent gubernatorial election to the apex court.
Human rights advocate and legal scholar, Chidi Odinkalu, acknowledged the judge’s visit to Benin in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Mr Odinkalu further alleged that Mr Okoro’s visit was to hold a meeting with Edo State Attorney-General, Samson Osagie.
Mr Odinkalu’s post intensified speculation about behind-the-scenes dealings related to the high-profile election dispute.
However, when contacted by DAILY GAZETTE for clarification, Mr Osagie vehemently denied any such meeting took place.
“I had no meeting with any justice at Protea, please,” he stated.
“When has it become an offence to walk freely as Attorney General simply because some losers are desperate to drag everyone down?”
He continued to deny the allegations when pressed for further clarification.
“There is no iota of truth in the online circulation of my meeting with any judicial officer. I seriously object, please,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, Mr Okoro has remained silent on the matter, declining to respond to several inquiries from newsmen.
Additionally, no official comment has been made by a Supreme Court spokesperson as of Friday afternoon.
Justice Okoro has faced public scrutiny before.
In October 2016, he was among a group of high-ranking judges, including the late Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, arrested by SSS operatives during a sweeping anti-corruption operation targeting the judiciary.
At the time, officials alleged that large sums of U.S dollars were found at Mr Okoro’s residence, suggesting possible bribery tied to Supreme Court rulings.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Justice Okoro denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the seized funds were not related to illicit activities.
He was later permitted to continue serving on the Supreme Court bench, reportedly following a behind-closed-doors arrangement with then-President Muhammadu Buhari.
Since then, observers have accused Justice Okoro of exhibiting bias in politically sensitive cases, often siding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
His recent appearance in Benin, with the PDP’s legal challenge on the verge of reaching the Supreme Court, has therefore reignited fears about the impartiality of Nigeria’s highest court in matters of electoral justice.
