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A civil rights group, the Community Outreach for Development and Welfare Advocacy, CODWA, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the activities of the justices that handled the democratic impasse resulting from the November 21, 2015 governorship elections in Kogi State.
CODWA called on the NJC to as a matter of urgency rescue our judicial system from casino judges who prefer the path of mediocrity over progressive and developmental adjudication. Justice Halima Mohammed of the lower tribunal and the five Appeal Court Justices (Jumai Hanatu Sankey, Mojeed .A. Owoade, O.F. Ogbuniya, Ita George Mbaba and Tijani Abubakar) who decided the cases have vividly demonstrated that they lack the competence, transparency, legal mindsets and constitutional proficiency of the case in question. If all other sectors of our national consciousness have become awful, we must not allow the Judiciary which is the last hope of the mass; and which should stand at the highest point of the pinnacle for corrective measures to go the way of other sectors.
Our careful analysis of their judgment juxtaposed with the prayers of the plaintiffs, are clear indications that it is either they are soiled by mediocrity or that they have thrown conscience to the winds as the cases relate to Sections 187 (1), 179 (2), 181 (1) of the 1999 Constitution and section 141 of the Electoral Act 2010 (As amended). The ignoble political judgments flowing from the Kogi State election tribunals are reminiscences of night trading and mis-carriages in Jankara market. These and similar judgments is calling to question the characters of some of the judges presiding over electoral cases in Nigeria. Our judicial system is fast tumbling down the hills, coming to dis-repute instead of being the custodian of our canons.
The undue interference from the national law officer, Malami Abubakar; who from the onset had trailed and maneuver the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare an inconclusive election even when the number of those who have collected their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) in the affected 91 polling units are far less than the margin with which Audu/Faleke ticket were leading Wada/Awoniyi ticket.
To have declared the election inconclusive and ordered a kangaroo supplementary election is a waste of our commonwealth and dwindling resources. Malami was also the arrow head to subjugate the All progressive Congress (APC) to pick a strange bird fellow (Yahaya Bello) to replace James Abiodun Faleke bonded with the late Prince Abubakar Audu by section 187 (1) of the 1999 Constitution on the demise of Audu. We in CODWA cannot absolve President Mahammud Buhari; it is the skin of Esau but the voice of Jacob. Justice Halima of the lower tribunal equally re-produced Malami’s interview granted a newspaper on the eve of her judgment.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Malami and his collaborators would hang white albatrosses around their necks to see our judicial system collapse as long as their conceited desires are met.
CODWA called on civilized Nigerians to wake up from slumber and indifference, we cannot continue to leave our destiny in the hands of all political comers for imposed direction by a clique. This call becomes necessary for we are at the darkest hour and trying period of transitional democracy in Nigeria.
Eternal Vigilance is the Price for liberty!
– Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye
Executive Director, CODWA
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