A Niger Delta interest group that styles itself as Urhobo New Frontiers (UNF), in Delta State, has raised the alarm over alleged plots to influence Justices of the Court of Appeal to do their bidding as the electoral petitions moves to Court of Appeal.
UNF therefore called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, President of the Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, National Judicial Council to as a matter of urgency save Nigeria democracy from those bent on compromising the judiciary to have their way.
The group noted that the call became necessary following a number of judgments that have emanated from the electoral tribunal across the country which have left many Nigerians wondering if the judiciary has also lost its high held axiom as the ‘last hope of the common man’.
Urhobo New Frontiers in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Chief James Onosakponaome and Mr Ovieighele Ochuko said that it’s worrisome to hear some of the grounds for which elections were nullified across the country and sadly in Delta in particular.
The group disclose that political money bags have invaded Abuja in their quest to compromise judicial officials, including justices of Court of Appeal who will sit to hear appeals emanating from different tribunal across the country.
The group’s statement which was titled, “Move To Compromise Court Of Appeal Justices, Need For CJN, NJC To Be Vigilant’, reads in part:
“The judiciary has remained the beacon of hope for the Nigerian people since the return to civil rule in 1999 and has managed to remain apolitical and as the stabilizer of our current democratic journey. However, we are saddened and taken aback with recent pronouncements from electoral tribunals.
“One of such judgments that we considered ‘absurd’ is the decision of the National Assembly Petition Tribunal nullifying Rt Rev (Hon) Francis Ejiroghene Waive of APC electoral victory for nonpublication of his academic qualification which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on its portal.
“The mere fact that Waive submitted his academic qualification to INEC as required by law suffices, but even when INEC showed evidence to the fact and further notified the electoral umpire when he noticed that his qualification was not published, the Tribunal in what many analysts termed, “Father Christmas judgment” awarded victory to the PDP candidate, Chief Solomon Ahwinahwi for the Commission’s act of omission.
“Without prejudice to the lordship at the Court of Appeal, if candidates in an election compromised INEC official and ensure that the particular of its opponents are not published and he or she is rewarded by the Court, as this case seems to be, the court may be setting dangerous precedents that may consume us all. The court is a place of justice and should not reward people for subverting justice.
“We have it on good authority that the Delta PDP candidate, Hon. Solomon Ahwinahwi, is currently in Abuja shopping for any willing Court of Appeal justice and in his usual boisterous manner was quoted to have said he used $80,000 to purchase judgement at Tribunal and now is offering $70,000 to $100,000 as cash advance payment for any willing judge to compromise justice.
“He is being allegedly helped by a former Kogi senator who is running for governor, Dino Melaye and both of them were seen at Maitama on Friday.
“We, therefore, urge Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, President of Court of Appeal, Hon Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, National Judicial Council to as a matter of urgency step in to stop these dark agents and save Nigeria democracy from the hands of desperate politicians who will go to any length to compromise the judiciary in order to have their way.”