Nigerian lawyer Monday Ubani says Supreme Court Justice, John Okoro, was in Edo for the burial ceremony of an acquaintance amid reports that the senior judge was in the state to secretly linkup with Attorney-General, Samson Osagie, over the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the apex court, challenging the victory of Governor Monday Okpebholo in 2024 Edo governorship election.
In a statement on Saturday, Mr Ubani defended the presence of Mr Okoro in Edo, claiming that the justice was in the state for the burial ceremony of Caroline Uwaifo, the mother of former president of the African Bar Association, Hannibal Uwaifo. He added that he can confirm Mr Okoro was not in Benin for any sinister political plot.
“I know for a fact that Honourable Justice Inyang Okoro, JSC CFR was in Benin to attend the burial ceremony of the mother of my very dear friend, Hannibal Uwaifo, as an invited guest of Mr Uwaifo,” Mr Ubani said.
He added, “I was involved in the planning of the obsequies of our colleague’s late mother and attended all the events thereof and I know that His Lordship was in attendance both at the service of songs on Thursday, 12 June, 2025 and at the Funeral Service the following day, Friday, 13 June, 2025. The only event that I did not see His Lordship attend was the reception which followed the interment on Friday.”
