Justice Agim attended UNICAL convocation independently, not politically – CJIA

The Coalition for Judicial Integrity and Accountability (CJIA) has dismissed as unfounded the claims that Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court accompanied Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to the University of Calabar (UNICAL) convocation ceremony on Saturday, March 22, 2025.

In a statement on Tuesday, Dr. Umaru Bako, Executive Director of CJIA, described the reports as misleading and cautioned against drawing the judiciary into political controversies.

“Justice Agim attended the convocation in his capacity as an award recipient, not as part of any political delegation. It is important that public discourse remains grounded in facts rather than speculation,” Bako stated.

The group expressed concern that such reports could erode public confidence in the judiciary, especially at a time of heightened political tensions.

“The judiciary plays a crucial role in upholding democracy, and associating judicial officers with political figures without basis can create unnecessary distrust,” Bako added.

CJIA also urged media outlets to verify information before publication, emphasizing the need for responsible journalism.

“We encourage journalists to uphold professional standards by ensuring that reports are accurate and evidence-based. Misinformation about the judiciary only weakens democratic institutions,” the statement read.

Reaffirming its commitment to judicial integrity, the group called for caution in how narratives involving judicial officers are framed.

“Judges, like all public officials, have professional and personal engagements. Their presence at public events should not automatically be politicized,” Bako concluded.