The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed reports alleging that Justice Emmanuel Agim accompanied the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to a convocation ceremony at the University of Calabar.
In a statement released on Monday, the apex court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Akande Festus, clarified that Justice Agim attended the event as an honouree and distinguished alumnus. The university’s Governing Council had selected him to receive an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession.
Addressing the misinformation, Festus stated, “In light of reports circulating on social media and other news platforms, we wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding the attendance of Hon. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim at the University of Calabar convocation ceremony on Saturday, 22nd March 2025. Misleading claims suggest that he accompanied the Hon. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, to the event. We categorically refute this false narrative.”
The Supreme Court emphasized that Justice Agim was honored for his dedication to justice, integrity, and the rule of law, serving as a role model for aspiring legal professionals. Although he was initially scheduled to attend the burial ceremony of Justice Stanley Alagoa in Bayelsa State alongside other Supreme Court Justices, he obtained permission to instead participate in the convocation ceremony.
The statement further stressed that Justice Agim’s attendance was entirely personal and not in any official capacity representing a government ministry or department. Any claims to the contrary, it noted, are not only inaccurate but also undermine the independence of the judiciary, a key pillar of democracy.
However, the controversy surrounding the event gained further traction when legal expert Chidi Odinkalu weighed in on the matter. In a post on social media, he remarked:
“Isn’t it convenient that in the fortnight after Emmanuel Agim handed improbable judicial candy to @GovWike from @SupremeCourtNg & Wike’s wife was on the @CourtOfAppealNG panel that did same for Aminu Bayero, all 3 – Bayero, Agim, Wike – unite in @Unical1975?”
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Odinkalu’s comment has fueled speculation and public discourse regarding the perceived entanglement of political and judicial figures, adding another dimension to the ongoing debate over judicial independence and transparency in Nigeria.
“We urge the public and media to verify information through credible sources before disseminating or publishing, in order to prevent the spread of misinformation,” the statement concluded.
