BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI
ABUJA—Perturbed by the legal-cum-moral implication of weighty allegations that he fraudulently tampered with his age credential with a view to sit tight in office after the impending general elections, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu, yesterday in Abuja, cried blue murder over the matter, insisting that he was being unnecessarily vilified.

Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-AluU

The CJN, who made this position known in a statement he issued through the Supreme Court yesterday, equally averred that contrary to fallacious publications by certain section of the media (not Vanguard) that he was born on May 28, 1941, he would be clocking the 70 year mandatory retirement age for judicial officers on August 28, 2011, insisting that it was his factual month and date of birth.

He further challenged anyone with a contrary proof of evidence against him to come forward and adduce same, just as he dared his accusers to go to either the Nigerian Law School where he passed through, or the Benue State Judiciary where he was first appointed to the Bench as a High Court Judge, to conduct their investigations.

The statement, which was signed by the Assistant Director, Press and Information, at the Supreme Court, Mr Akande Aweneri Festus, read: “Our attention has been drawn to a story in some tabloids of Monday February 21, 2011, concerning the date of birth and the retirement date of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu.

“For the purpose of keeping the records straight, we wish to state that Justice A.I Katsina-Alu was born on August 28, 1941, and he is due for retirement on August, 28, 2011, when he would have clocked 70 years; and there has never been any controversy over this, as all his records from the date of birth through all the institutions he attended vis-à-vis the various organisations he has worked before being elevated to the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria have never been different from what they have always been.

“It is necessary to make it clear that every profession has its ethics and modus-operandi, and journalism being one of such highly revered professions the world over, has its well defined and refined way of practice.

“In a situation where stories tainted with sentiments and veiled motives are released to the public, then the practice of ethical dissemination of authentic, factual and verifiable information is being compromised.

“Ordinarily, one would have expected that thorough investigations should be conducted before publishing such story, as the CJN is a public officer whose records are public property and thus resides in public domain.

“At least the Nigerian Law School which he attended is a public institution where investigation as to his age and other relevant information could be carried out; the same with all the other places he has so far worked, particularly the Benue State Judiciary where he was first appointed to the Bench as a High Court Judge.”