The United World Congress of Diplomats (UN- WCD) has expressed worry over alleged interference of judges on political issues where conflicting orders were issued to frustrate democracy.
Its Executive Director, Dr. Tunji Asaolu stated this while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the group has received reports from some states in Nigeria such as Rivers, Osun and Benue State where judicial interference had almost plunged the states into crisis.
Asaolu recalled that in Osun State, there was a conflicting State High Court order and Appeal Court Judgment over the dissolution of Local Government Council Chairmen and their reinstatement and a fresh election by the state electoral empire.
He added that the most recent and worrisome of all was the political interference by the Benue State Chief Judge, Maurice Ikpambese when he allegedly tried to undermine justice by granting waiver to petitioners of local government election tribunal not to pay security deposit as stipulated by law.
Asaolu noted that these behaviors are completely against the core objectives of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) which are to: Promote adherence, by each state party, to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights; and also the principle of the rule of law.
He said: “The Benue State Chief Judge, the Registrar of the court, the current Senate Minority Leader, and all those who supported the actions of the Chief Judge publicly should be sanctioned and have their existing visas canceled and visa ban issued against them just as we advocated in the case of Rivers State and INEC officials who purposely sabotaged democratic principles during elections.
“The undue interference of Judiciary workers especially Judges on political issues where conflicting orders were issued by judges just to frustrate democracy.”
Asaolu stressed that the group has it on good authority that the National Judicial Council was yet to constitute an investigative panel to unravel the allegations against Justice Ikpambese following a resolution passed by the Benue State Legislative House of Assembly which recommended outright removal of the Chief Judge from office.
He added: “We call on the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation to initiate an independent panel to thoroughly investigate the allegations of financial irregularities and breaches of ethical standards attributed to Chief Judge Ikpambese of Benue State.”
Asaolu said it was essential to ensure that due process is followed and that justice is served in the interest of public trust and accountability.