The Northern Initiative for the Defence of Democracy and Justice has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Chairman of the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to prevail on the judiciary and stop ongoing “judicial rascality” in the ongoing Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
TheHintsNews reports Appeal Court recently over-ruled the earlier decision of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting also in Abuja.
The earlier decision of the Tribunal was that all parties involved in the case to jointly inspect the 11th November, 2023 governorship election materials used on the said election date
However, reacting in a statement on Monday, It’s Coordinator, Nureeddeen Musa Sadiq, said the recent judgement reversing earlier decision of the Tribunal on the inspection of materials came as a major surprise to many who have been following the activities and openness of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
The group was of the opinion that the tribunal, which is a direct fact-finding panel of some sort, has all the powers to issue directives and orders on the mode of its operandi in order to accomplish its duties.
It therefore urged the tribunal to be firm and never to allow themselves to be cowed or intimidated by whatever order coming from above.
It said: “This is just the first time in recent years that an appellate court will be meddling, interrupting and usurping the true powers of a tribunal and trying to distract it from performing its traditional role. Our fear is that if such unhindered interruption is allowed then, the future is blink for the judiciary and the entire country.
“We want to appeal to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman National Judicial Commission to prevail on the judiciary and stop all these judicial rascality.
“The judiciary should and must be restored to its rightful position in Nigeria. This is a passionate appeal from the common people of this country. Justice should not become a commodity that can easily be bought over by some undemocratic elements in the society.”
