A group under the auspices of Stand Up Nigeria has declared support for the Nigerian Judiciary as the country’s judiciary has become a major focus of National and International organizations in recent times.
Stand Up Nigeria made the declaration at a press briefing held on Saturday in Abuja.
In the statement signed by Sunday Attah, the National Coordinator, he stated that the group has been following the trend in the Country especially the political class and their relationship with the judiciary at a time when major political players are battling with post-election litigations across the country.
Attah noted that In recent times, the Nigerian judiciary has become a major focus of National and International organizations with everyone watching with kin interest if justice would be served.
“To be fair to the judiciary, the Judges protected the image of the Bench by delivering reasonable judgements not minding political influence by even serving Governors, Senators, and others alike.
“We heartily joined well-meaning Nigerians and Organizations in applauding the Honourable Justices of the Kano State Governorship election petition tribunal who delivered a bold judgment to sacked Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf and declared Dr. Nasir Gawuna as the duly elected Governor of Kano State.
“This judgement is a deterrent to politicians who float electoral laws and make elections do or die affair. We had warned politicians severally to discourage their supporters from rigging and violence during elections as democracy is the government of the people by the people for the people.” He said.
Part of the statement reads;
“You may recall that On 20th March 2008, the Edo State election petition tribunal nullified the election of Senator Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and declared Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN winner of the Edo Governorship election of 2007.
“On the 11th November 2008, a federal Appeal Court sitting in Benin City also upheld the ruling of the state’s elections petitions tribunal, declaring Oshiomole to be the governor of Edo State. The court cited irregularities and non-compliance with the electoral law, hell was not let loose.
“In view of those as mentioned earlier, we condemn the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP who have been threatening the judges and general peace of Kano State using its supporters, to understand that, trying to intimidate the judiciary in order to force the Judges to their side would amount to a miscarriage of justice as the Law is blind with a sharp sword.
“You don’t have to intimidate the judiciary or cause war because you lose an election. The tenure is four years after which fresh elections would be conducted. You may prepare yourself to contest again instead of sponsoring people to blackmail highly respected Justices of the election petition tribunal and intimidate the Appeal Court Judges all in a bid to reverse a sound judgement already delivered.
“We understand that Kano has an International market which makes it a home to all Nigerians irrespective of religion and tribe. Kano indigenes are also scattered in other States of the Federation without fear of molestation. No one has a monopoly on violence.
“The Judges must be encouraged and supported by all Nigerians as they deliver more critical judgements that would strengthen our democracy.
The NNPP and its government must come out openly to retract the violent threat being issued by its supporters including a Commissioner under Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“Here is a man ordinarily referred to as Honourable Commissioner, so, where is the Honourable? It shows how deep the NNPP must have gone in terms of intimidation of judicial officers in secret before it was made public.
“We believe that the intimidation and threat being mounted are targeted towards the Appeal Court judges in order to bully them. We urged our Honourable Justices of the Appeal Court to scumble to their antic but always stand on the part of justice. We have offered to stand by the judiciary and help protect the institution once it continues to maintain the part of justice.
“We thank the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing an enabling environment for the judiciary to operate without interference.”
Stand Up Nigeria is a group of patriotic Nigerian Youths across political parties and ethnic groups who believe in peaceful co-existence, rule of law, and institutional governance.
