DONT ABUSE JUDGES,CJN CAUTION POLITICIAN

Don’t abuse judges, CJN cautions politicians The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, on Wednesday, expressed concern about attack unleashed on judges by politicians following the judgments delivered by some election petitions tribunals in the country. Justice Mohammed, in a statement by his media aide, Mr. Ahuraka Isah, said politicians should report perceived misconduct by judges to the National Judicial Council instead of abusing them. The CJN, who doubles as the Chairman of the NJC, said “proactive, decisive and just investigation and sanction” would be taken once such complaints are submitted. Calling on governors to be more sensitive to the plight of judges, the CJN said it was not enough to attack judges over corruption and bribery allegations and look away when “thugs enter courts to beat judges, tear court processes and bomb the courts to prevent the delivery of some judgments.” The statement read in part, “The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Mahmud Mohammed has admonished politicians, most especially heads of governments, to refrain from disparaging the integrity and reputation of the judiciary. “This is against the backdrop of reactions to the outcomes of some governorship, National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal matters in the country, where some politically exposed persons, state governors and even lawyers to some litigants, averred that these verdicts were influenced by money and political pressure. “His lordship insists that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility especially amongst public officials, particularly the state governors who are equally the chief security officers of their respective states. “He said it is not just enough to say the judiciary is corrupt or that that judge was bribed to deliver a judgment; at the same time look the other way while thugs enter courts to beat judges, tear court processes and bomb the courts to prevent the delivery of some judgments. “His lordship noted that corruption is a common denominator experienced by all sections of government and as such, each head of government should look inward to devise strategies that will clear the Augean stables of corruption. “The Hon CJN urged state governors and public office holders to be sincere in the fight against corruption, noting that action speaks louder than words.” Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission have asked the CJN to intervene in ensuring prompt release of the certified true copies of judgments of the election petitions tribunal to enable interested parties to prosecute their appeal. The PDP’s letter, signed by one of its counsel, Chief Godwin Obla (SAN), was dated October 28, 2015. The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had in its judgment delivered on Saturday sacked Governor Nyesom Wike on the grounds that his election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. The state/national assembly election petitions tribunals had also sacked 20 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected on the platform of the PDP on the grounds of irregularities said to have characterised their election. Obla in his letter specifically sought the CJN’s intervention in the release of the CTC of judgments Mr. Wali Belief Azeru vs. Michael Okechukwu Chinda and Dr. Oto Gwung Dressman vs. INEC and others.