APC warns judges to leave minister alone

The Enugu APC Publicity Secretary, Mrs Kate Ofor also said the judges should bring Ogbonnaya Onu’s name in the matter.

Justices John Inyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta in separate statements, alleged that Amaechi asked them to influence the rulings of some election cases.

Ofor said “I am outraged that instead of defending themselves, the Honourable Justices John Okoro and Slyvester Ngwuta are looking for people to drag along with them, hence the resort to afterthought. They should forthwith leave Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Rotimi Amechi alone.”

Adding that “The Honourable Justices going by the powers conferred on them by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, are aware that they have the power to call on the police or even their orderly to arrest anybody who is attempting to pervert the course of justice.

“It is not enough to whisper to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who luckily has not owned up to such frivolous allegation.

“It is painful that corruption has penetrated the temple of justice, where Justice is for sale, to the extent that humongous amount in different currencies were found in the house of the justices like Bureau De Change dealers. This is why President Buhari lamented that if Nigerians did not kill corruption, corruption would kill Nigerians.”

The APC Enugu spokesperson also commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for calling for the suspension of the embattled judges.

She also called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to do ‘the right thing’ and support NBA’s call.

Ofor said “If Nigerians do not join the fight and show enough commitment, then we are in soup. The Constitution never envisaged this level of unbridled corruption penetrating the temple of Justice.

“In the past, there were instances where the NJC used kid gloves administratively in dealing with malcontent judges. The result is what we have in hand today.

“As His Lordship, The Honourable Justice Samson O. Uwaifo (rtd) proclaimed, ‘A corrupt judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in his hand in a crowded street. He can be restrained physically of course, but a corrupt judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of the society.'”

“In the past we have had forthright Judges like late Justice Anthony Aniagolu, who voluntarily declined to the position of Chief Justice of Nigeria after a military coup because he was 3rd in the hierarchy. He also declined a tribunal case because his legal son, Tony Mogboh (SAN) was the lawyer to the defendant.

“Finally, let trial commence as all we need is enough evidence, not name calling. Therefore, leave Onu and Amechi alone.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed has rejected calls by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the judges arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) to be suspended.