Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, has distanced himself from a statement credited to him, in which he purportedly claimed to be a victim of judicial gang-up.

The governor said he never uttered the words neither did he give authorization for a judiciary-attacking statement to be released by Opunabo Nko-Tariah.

While saying he doesn’t cast aspersions on judges, Wike noted that he will always have confidence in the judiciary, even when rulings don’t go his way.

He said this on Thursday, during a meeting with Rivers state stakeholders, senators, House of Reps members, and traditional rulers.

“Be assured by the Grace of God our lawyers are working hard to file the appeal within stipulated time.

“I have told people that it is not in our character to cast aspersions on judges. I have also told people not to speak on my behalf to castigate judges. The tribunal is not the final appellate court on this matter.”

“There is no need of castigating the judiciary. We are not one of those when judgment favours you, you says you have confidence in the judiciary. When it does not favour you, you lose confidence in the judiciary.”

“I want to say in the past two days, you must have read where they quoted me as saying judicial terrorism or judicial gang-up, I never said so. And I never authorised anybody to say so on this matter.”