Politics
Kano Tribunal Hit By N10M Bribery Allegation
The Chairperson of Panel 2 of the Election Petition Tribunal in Kano, Justice Azinge, expressed concern on Tuesday, revealing that certain lawyers were trying to influence judges in her team through bribery.
According to her this marked the second instance where a judge complained about lawyers attempting to corrupt the legal process by offering bribes to her and her colleagues.
She mentioned in court that there were rumors of money changing hands, including an alleged incident where a staff member reportedly received N10 million.
However, she didn’t clarify if the staff member involved was from her court or a different one.
Justice Azinge issued a warning that she would not tolerate any further efforts to undermine justice by means of corruption.
“In recent years, allegations of lawyers bribing judges cast shadows over Nigeria’s judicial system, a complex issue that is threatening to erode the public’s trust in the pursuit of justice.”
“While it is important to acknowledge that not all lawyers engage in unethical practices, the spectre of judicial corruption remains a concerning challenge that the Nigerian legal community must confront head-on.”
BIZTELLERS reports that the issue of lawyers bribing judges underscores the complex interplay of power, ethics, and accountability in the Nigerian legal sphere.
“Corruption within the judicial system strikes at the core of fairness and unbiased legal proceedings, eroding the fundamental values on which justice stands. The repercussions are extensive, impacting individuals, communities, and the overall credibility of the legal framework.”
Instances of lawyers trying to manipulate court outcomes through illegitimate channels emphasize the urgency for comprehensive reforms.
The Nigerian legal community must engage in self-reflection and self-regulation to uncover and tackle the underlying factors that might encourage unethical conduct.
Maintaining transparency, ensuring accountability, and dedicating themselves to upholding the rule of law are crucial elements in dismantling the culture of corruption. This culture poses a risk to the credibility of the justice system.
“Efforts to combat judicial corruption should involve not only legal professionals but also civil society organisations, academia, and governmental bodies.
“Strengthening mechanisms for reporting and addressing allegations of corruption, ensuring the independence of the judiciary, and enhancing ethical training for lawyers are crucial steps in creating a more robust and trustworthy legal ecosystem.”
When asked for his response regarding the allegation of lawyers attempting to bribe Election Petition Tribunal judges, the Chairman of the Kano State Nigeria Bar Association, S. S. Gezawa, mentioned that he came across the news on an online newspaper.
The report stated that Justice Azinge, Chairperson of the Kano EPT, alleged that certain lawyers were trying to bribe judges.
He also mentioned that there were rumors suggesting that one of the court officials received a bribe of N10 million.
“I’ll say, it is what it is, it is an allegation, if any member of the EPT or my Lord, the Chairperson of the panel, Justice Azinge, has any allegation or proof of evidence of such, it can be formalised, a complaint can be channelled to the NBA or to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for necessary action against the erring lawyer”
“We should also remember that lawyers are not immune to prosecution.”
In response, the NBA leader contended that if there is substantial evidence indicating misconduct by any lawyer, it should be reported to relevant security agencies like Anti-Corruption Agencies, the police, EFCC, or ICPC, in cases involving staff or public servants.
He emphasized, “So long as it has not been formalised, we will see, as my lord said, it is rumours and allegations, that is what it is”
Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has declared that nothing will prevent the upcoming local government election from holding, despite resistance from the state’s police command.
In the early hours of Friday, Fubara personally visited the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISEC) office in Port Harcourt.
The facility, where electoral materials are stored, had been barricaded by police operatives.
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The police presence, which was seen as a blockade, quickly dispersed after Fubara arrived at the scene, accompanied by lawmakers and government officials.
Their departure followed the governor’s strong opposition to the actions of the police.
The Rivers State police command had earlier announced that it would not provide security for the election, citing a federal high court order from Abuja.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the state’s police spokesperson, clarified that the decision was in compliance with the court’s directive.
However, Fubara dismissed the need for police security and criticized the police’s involvement.
He claimed that Kayode Egbetokun, the inspector-general of police (IGP), was acting under the influence of Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) and former Rivers governor.
“We came here this morning when we heard that the Nigeria police were taking over the RISEC premises. I had to come myself to find out why such a thing would happen,” Fubara said during his visit.
He questioned the interpretation of the court ruling, emphasizing that it did not explicitly stop the election from taking place.
“The judgment said don’t give the voter register and police, don’t provide security. But is that the same thing as blocking the election?” he asked.
Fubara insisted that the election would proceed regardless of police support, citing a similar situation in Anambra where elections were conducted without police security.
“We don’t need your security. We will provide our own,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to seeing the election through.
In a fiery speech, Fubara warned that the only way to stop the election would be if he were shot.
“I will be here. This is my property. You don’t have any power whatsoever to bar me from entering it,” he declared, adding that any attempt to do so would mark a dark chapter in the history of the IGP.
The governor’s stance has raised tensions in Rivers as the election date approaches, with both the local population and political observers closely watching the developments.
“The election will hold, results will be declared, and people will be sworn in,” Fubara vowed.
Fubara’s comments signal a deepening rift between the state government and federal security agencies, further complicating the already fraught political atmosphere in Rivers.
The coming days will determine whether the governor’s resolve will prevail or whether legal and security challenges will force a postponement of the polls.
In a dramatic turn of events on Friday, protesters stormed the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) office, demanding the local government elections proceed as planned.
Despite heavy rainfall, the demonstrators, chanting “Election must hold,” set up canopies, blocked part of the road, and beat drums in defiance of security concerns.
The protest followed an early morning confrontation between the Rivers State governor and security forces.
The governor had rushed to the RSIEC premises after reports emerged that the Rivers State Police Command intended to take control of the office, a move seen by many as an attempt to disrupt the election set for Saturday.
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In an impassioned response, the governor vowed that the elections would not be derailed. “Keep your security, I do not need it. This election must hold on Saturday. The results will be declared, and the winners will be sworn in,” he said, recalling a similar situation in Anambra State.
Earlier on Friday, security operatives reportedly thwarted an attempt by individuals disguised in police uniforms to gain access to the RSIEC office. The intruders allegedly tried to break into the commission’s gates and strong room in a bid to seize sensitive electoral materials intended for the polls.
The pre-election atmosphere in Rivers State remains charged, with security concerns escalating as voters and officials prepare for Saturday’s local government elections.
Tensions escalated at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secretariat in Port Harcourt on Thursday as protests broke out ahead of the upcoming Local Government elections, scheduled for October 5, 2024.
Large crowds of demonstrators gathered at the secretariat, prompting a heavy security presence to control the situation and manage the traffic disruption caused by the unrest.
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According to reports, the protests were fueled by concerns over the delayed release of the 2023 Voters’ Register by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Protesters voiced frustration over the legal challenges that have complicated the electoral process just days before the election.
The situation intensified after a Federal High Court ruling on September 30, 2024, in which Justice Peter Lifu barred INEC from releasing the voters’ register to RSIEC.
The court’s decision stemmed from ongoing legal disputes regarding the legitimacy of the election process.
Despite the legal roadblocks, Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has insisted that the elections will proceed as planned.
Fubara, citing a prior Supreme Court ruling that mandates all Nigerian states must hold democratically elected local government elections, expressed confidence that the election will take place on schedule.
The delay in the release of the voters’ register has raised questions about the transparency and fairness of the upcoming election, intensifying political tensions in Rivers State.
Authorities are on high alert, working to ensure that the situation does not spiral further ahead of the scheduled election date.
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