Sowore Accuses Wike of Corrupting Nigerian Judiciary, Claims He Controls Judges

Human rights activist and #RevolutionNow convener, Omoyele Sowore, has accused Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), of being a key figure in the corruption of Nigeria’s judiciary. Sowore, who made the allegations in a post on social media platform X, claimed that Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, exerts significant control over the judiciary, stating that he has the institution “in his breast pocket.”

Sowore, a former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), further accused Wike of using his influence to secure favorable court rulings during his time in office. “Nyesom Wike has been a major corruptor of the judiciary. In judicial circles, he is called the ‘Golden Boy of the Judiciary’ because of his uncanny ability to corrupt the judicial system,” Sowore alleged.

He also claimed that during the tenure of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, who served as the President of the Court of Appeal from 2014 to 2020, Wike awarded her a contract to build the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, further solidifying his influence. According to Sowore, Wike’s power was so extensive that he could secure court decisions even before making official requests.

Sowore also accused Wike of bribing judicial officers by building houses for judges and allocating them prime lands in Abuja, describing these actions as direct attempts to manipulate the judiciary. “Even before he became governor of Rivers State, Wike was the go-to guy for buying judgments or influencing judges in election tribunals or other legal matters,” Sowore added.

Wike, who is currently serving as the Minister of the FCT, has not yet responded to these allegations. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the first female President of the Nigerian Court of Appeal, was succeeded by Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem in 2020.