Are Nigeria’s federal, appeal and supreme courts headed by Christians?
A former aviation minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Femi Fani Kayode popularly known as FFK, recently took to his Twitter handle to say that the federal high court, appeal court and the supreme court are all headed by Christians. The post has since generated thousands of reactions on Twitter by Nigerians. VERDICT: FALSE […]
A former aviation minister and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Femi Fani Kayode popularly known as FFK, recently took to his Twitter handle to say that the federal high court, appeal court and the supreme court are all headed by Christians.
The post has since generated thousands of reactions on Twitter by Nigerians.
VERDICT: FALSE
Full Text: On July 31 2022, Mr. Kayode, on his Twitter handle @realFFK said “Till recently, four out of 6 SW governors were Muslim. Today all 6 are Christian (Oyetola out) and every governor in the South is Christian. Again, till recently, the Supreme court, court of Appeal and Fed. High court were headed by Muslims. Today, ALL three are headed by Christians. FEAR NOT!
Claim 1: South West had 4 immediate past governors who are Muslims
Verification: In verifying the former Minister’s Claim, Daily Trust sought to find out the immediate past governors in the South West before the ones currently governing the state
Findings show that in Oyo State, late senator Abiola Ajimobi, a Muslim was the immediate past governor before Mr Seyi Makinde came on board.
In Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, a Christian was the immediate past governor before Babajide Sanwolu, also a Christian took over.
In Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, a current senator was the immediate past governor of the state. He is a Muslim and has governed the state for eight years before Mr Dapo Abiodun, a Christian took over.
In Osun State, the tenure of Mr Gboyega Oyetola (a Muslim) will be coming to an end in November this year following his inability to get a return ticket as he was defeated in the July 2022 governorship elections by Senator Ademola Adeleke, who is a Christian.
In Ekiti, former Governor Ayodele Fayose, a Christian, was the immediate past governor of the state who completed his two terms in office before the incumbent, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also a Christian took over the mantle of leadership.
In Ondo State, the immediate past governor of the state, Olusegun Mimiko, a Christian was succeeded by Rotimi Akeredolu, the incumbent governor who is a Christian.
Conclusion: Following previous records, the claim that South West had four Muslim governors before the incumbents is not true as the former governors who are Muslims are three namely; Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
Claim 2: All heads of the judiciary are Christians
Verification: Checks by Daily Trust has shown that Justice John T. Tsoho who was appointed as the Chief Judge of the federal high court is a Christian.
He was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
Similarly, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, a Christian is Nigeria’s current president of the Appeal court. She was appointed in June 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari in June this year swore in Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, although the president has recently sent his name to the National Assembly to be confirmed as the substantive CJN.
Justice Ariwoola, who is a Muslim by virtue of the being the CJN, heads the Supreme court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Conclusion: While the Federal High court and Appeal courts are headed by Christians, the Supreme court is headed by a Muslim who doubles as the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, as such the claim by Fani Kayode is FALSE.