Supreme Court Justice John Okoro’s Presence in Benin Sparks Controversy Amid Edo Election Legal Battle

Supreme Court Justice John Okoro, previously accused of corruption by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS), has come under renewed scrutiny after being seen at a hotel in Benin City, Edo State, as political tensions rise over the disputed 2024 Edo governorship election.

Eyewitnesses and a video obtained by The Peoples Gazette reportedly placed Justice Okoro at the Protea Hotel in Benin on Thursday night. Supreme Court insiders later confirmed his identity, fueling speculation about his role in the ongoing legal dispute. The timing of his visit has raised concerns, as opposition parties are preparing to challenge the victory of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Supreme Court.

Prominent rights lawyer Chidi Odinkalu confirmed on Friday via social media that Justice Okoro was indeed in Benin. Odinkalu claimed the judge was in the city to meet with Edo State’s Attorney-General, Samson Osagie—a meeting that has drawn public attention given the imminent appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the election results.

Attorney-General Osagie, however, has strongly denied any such meeting took place. Speaking to The Gazette, Osagie dismissed the reports as unfounded and described them as attempts to tarnish his reputation. “I had no meeting with any justice at Protea, please,” he stated, insisting there was “no iota of truth” to the claims and objecting to what he called “desperate attempts” to implicate him.

Justice Okoro did not respond to requests for comment, and the Supreme Court’s spokesperson was also unavailable for statements as of Friday afternoon.

Justice Okoro has faced public scrutiny since his 2016 arrest alongside other high-profile judicial officials during an SSS-led anti-corruption operation. At the time, authorities claimed to have found large sums of foreign currency at his residence, allegedly linked to case compromises. Okoro denied any wrongdoing or illicit enrichment and was eventually allowed to remain on the bench following what sources described as a confidential arrangement with then-President Muhammadu Buhari.

Critics allege that Okoro has since shown a pattern of ruling in favor of the government or the APC, raising further questions about judicial impartiality as the Supreme Court prepares to hear the contentious Edo election appeal.