National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has resolved to petition the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies over claims of interference in the judicial process.The resolution followed comments attributed to the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, who claimed involvement in engagements with Supreme Court justices during the 2019 Kano governorship election proceedings.
Kwankwaso claimed that during the 2019 Kano governorship election dispute, he took Governor Abba Yusuf to see judges of the apex court after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive.
The apex court later ruled in favour of Abdullahi Ganduje, affirming his election and dismissing Yusuf’s petition.
Kwankwaso made the remarks while addressing supporters, after Yusuf’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to the comments in a statement posted on X by Etaba Agbor, secretary to the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Forum, the body said the NEC deliberated on the comments after they attracted widespread public attention.
The organisation noted that such claims, whether made directly or by implication, can undermine public confidence in the independence of the judiciary and Nigeria’s electoral justice system.
Similarly, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to investigate Kwankwaso.
In a petition signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society group expressed concern over media reports quoting Kwankwaso stating that he took the then governorship candidate, and now Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to meet Supreme Court judges in their villages and towns during the pendency of the case before the apex court.
HEDA noted that while political actors are entitled to pursue their cases through lawful legal processes, any suggestion of private engagement with judicial officers outside officially recognised legal channels could undermine public confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.
The organisation stressed that the allegation, if left unaddressed, could create a negative public perception of the integrity of the administration of justice, particularly given that the dispute was eventually resolved by the Supreme Court in January 2020, which affirmed the election outcome.
Citing provisions of Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Nigerian Judicial Code of Conduct, the CSO emphasised the need for judicial officers to avoid not only impropriety, but also the appearance of bias to preserve public trust in the administration of justice.
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