In a bid to deflate pressures that may come his way courtesy of electoral disputes taking place at tribunals across the country, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmood Mohammed, has banned politicians from his residence, the Nation reports.

This was as he directed that his security detail from the Department of State Service, DSS, and the police will henceforth be part of any interaction with politically exposed Lawyers seeking audience with him.

It was gathered that the CJN has since refused to grant requests for courtesy calls by governors and legislators with outstanding petitions against them at election tribunals or with court cases generally

Sources say he instituted these measures following subtle moves by some petitioners to drag the Judiciary into politics. The CJN and justices of the Supreme Court were reportedly touched by the row generated by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike’s visit to the CJN’s office in Abuja.

Even though the governor could not meet with the CJN, his visit almost created a political backlash for the Judiciary.

A source told the newspaper that Justice Mohammed warned his aides and household members not to allow politicians access to him.

The source said: “Except for his fellow judicial officers, relations and friends, the CJN has banned politicians from visiting his residence. He has limited all transactions or relationship to his office.

“The CJN has also made it a policy to invite a member of the security operatives or aides in his office to henceforth be part of any interaction with Politically-Exposed Lawyers seeking audience with him.

“Once any lawyer is suspected to have come to solicit favour, security agents will now be called upon to witness such an audience.”

It was also gathered that the nation’s head of the Judiciary has decided to limit courtesy visits by public officials.

“The new guidelines take immediate effect. The position of the CJN remains the same that the Judiciary must be insulated from politics.

“As a matter of fact, what the public did not know is that the CJN deliberately avoided meeting with Governor Nyesom Wike to avoid dragging the Judiciary into the murky waters of politics,” said the source.