According to the source, Justice Okoro is actively lobbying to be appointed chairman of the Supreme Court panel expected to hear the appeal challenging Governor Okpebholo’s electoral victory.

Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court was reportedly seen on Thursday evening at the Protea Hotel in Benin City, Edo State, in the company of the Edo State Attorney General, Hon. Samson Osagie.

According to a credible source, the pair were spotted leaving the hotel and were reportedly en route to meet Governor Monday Okpebholo, raising concerns over potential backchannel lobbying ahead of the Supreme Court hearing in the ongoing legal challenge to the governor’s election.

According to the source, Justice Okoro is actively lobbying to be appointed chairman of the Supreme Court panel expected to hear the appeal challenging Governor Okpebholo’s electoral victory.

"Justice Okoro is lobbying to be on the Supreme Court panel to hear the case challenging Governor Okpebholo’s election," the source said.

"He is lobbying to be the chairman of the Supreme Court appeal panel."

The source insisted that the meeting between the Attorney General and the apex court justice took place late Thursday night and was facilitated to establish direct contact with the governor.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters appears to show Justice Okoro in the hotel lobby approaching the reception desk, though the footage is not conclusive due to distance and image quality.

Justice Okoro currently sits on Nigeria’s Supreme Court and has presided over numerous high-profile political and electoral matters.

On Friday, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, a prominent human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleged in a post on his X account that a senior male Justice of the Supreme Court was seen leaving the Protea Hotel in Benin City at around 8 p.m., accompanied by the state Attorney General, Osagie.

“3 days ago, on 10 June, @Aighodalo appealed to @SupremeCourtNg against the decision of @CourtOfAppealNG in the governorship petition,” Odinkalu wrote.

3 days ago, on 10 June, @Aighodalo appealed to @SupremeCourtNg against the decision of @CourtOfAppealNG in the governorship petition

Shortly after 8pm last night, a senior, male JSC left Protea Hotel (near ShopRite in Benin) in the company of the Edo State Attorney-Gen. How so?! pic.twitter.com/BjwupPGnJh

— Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) June 13, 2025

“Shortly after 8pm last night, a senior, male JSC left Protea Hotel (near ShopRite in Benin) in the company of the Edo State Attorney-Gen. How so?!”

The suggestion that a sitting Supreme Court justice may be engaging with parties linked to a pending case has sparked concern among legal observers and civic groups, who stress the importance of preserving judicial neutrality in electoral adjudication.

The case challenging Governor Okpebholo’s election is expected to be decided by the Supreme Court in the coming weeks after being heard at both the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, filed a petition challenging the election of Governor Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 21, 2024, Edo State governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Okpebholo the winner with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo, who secured 247,274 votes. 

The Edo Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, dismissed the PDP’s petition on April 2, 2025, ruling that the party failed to prove allegations of over-voting and electoral non-compliance.

The tribunal held that the petitioners did not present sufficient evidence, including polling unit agents and presiding officers, to substantiate their claims. 

Appeal Court's Ruling

Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict, the PDP and Ighodalo appealed the decision. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja, in a judgment delivered on May 29, 2025, upheld Okpebholo’s election and dismissed the PDP’s appeal.

The appellate court ruled that the PDP failed to establish a miscarriage of justice and reaffirmed the tribunal’s decision. 

Following the Appeal Court’s ruling, Governor Okpebholo celebrated his victory, stating that the PDP had suffered repeated electoral setbacks.

He expressed confidence that his administration would continue to develop Edo State and dismissed allegations that the PDP’s mandate was stolen.

Meanwhile, Ighodalo is challenging the ruling at the Supreme Court.

When reached by SaharaReporters, Edo State Attorney General Samson Osagie firmly denied ever having met Justice Okoro at any point in his life. 

He stated, “What you’re asking me is strange. To be honest, I don’t personally know any Justice Okoro. I am aware that there is a Supreme Court justice named Okoro, but I do not have any personal relationship with him.”

Osagie also said that he was not aware of any Justice lobbying to be part of the Supreme Court panel that would address the election matters.

Attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain a response from Justice John Okoro regarding the allegations were unsuccessful. While he initially replied to the reporter’s messages, he ceased communication after receiving the video and being questioned about his alleged efforts to join the Supreme Court panel for the Edo election case. 

He also ignored multiple calls seeking his comments on the matter.

Meanwhile, Odinkalu’s post has sparked online reactions, including criticism directed at the judiciary.

“So the destiny of the good people of Edo State has been raped without condom at Protea Hotel Benin City. Tinubu has destroyed every institution of governance in that country,” Sequences (@Sequences0001) wrote on X.

“All of them collecting bribe to undermine our democracy would suffer and their generation would remain sleeves forever,” Africa Liberation (@Liberation1977) wrote.

“Who is still taking the judiciary seriously?” Yvonne Omokaro (@OmokaroYvonne) asked. “Can anyone point to an institution which is independent of the executive arm of government's control in today's Nigeria?

“@Aighodalo probably went this far to fulfill all righteousness, knowing he won't get justice in this government."

“Do we now see that the JUDICIARY IS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMPROMISED?” Edu La (@Pacman0000) wrote.

“The so-called last hope of common man is now a department within APC. So when you go to court, they are in the background laughing and mocking your effort to seek justice were there is none.”

Similarly, Tochukwu Osuagwu (@TochukwuO1300) wrote: “Prof, this is the democracy we’re celebrating; the kind where looting our commonwealth is just a means to buy justice. Rotten politicians have turned citizens into hungry beggars. They’ve captured the army, the police & nothing is spared, nothing is safe from their money politics.”

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