The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Olukayode Ariwola has sacked Barr. Olu Akpata as a member of the National Judicial Council (NJC). His removal as a member of the council is not unconnected with his political aspiration to be Governor of Edo State. The Council’s leadership was also not comfortable with the fact that Akpata was giving certain classified information of the council to his political benefactor, Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State. In a recent interview which the Governor granted in December 2023, he said he forwarded petitions written against the appointment of 8 persons as Judges of the State High Court to the NJC. From reliable sources within the NJC the said petition never got to the council, but was concealed by a member of council with political affiliation with Obaseki.