Election Tribunal: Kano govt reacts to attempt to bribe judge by SAN

By Muhammed Yakubu On Aug 17, 2023

Abba Kabiru Yusuf, Kano, Public Holiday, Maulud, NGOs, KANET — Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf

Kano State Government has expressed concern over an alarm raised by the chairman of Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway Justice in favour of his client.

SOLACEBASE had reported that the chairman of a Kano State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge, has expressed anger over attempts by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to bribe her.

She said so in open court before the commencement of the session on Tuesday in Kano, the judge lamented how senior lawyers particularly engage in unethical practice.

Although she did not disclose the identity of the senior lawyer, Ms Azinge said the SAN in question has a pending case before the tribunal.

However, a statement issued by the state, Commissioner of Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, on Wednesday, said the government viewed the incident with great concern as there is a strong rumour going around that some strong forces within the APC whose eyes are on Kano Election Petition Tribunals are bent on repeating what they did in 2019.

It said they are all out to use whatever means to sway justice as was done previously.

The statement read, ‘’The attention of Kano state government has been drawn to an allegation made by the chairman of Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway Justice in favour of his client as according to her, “money has been flying in the Tribunal.”

‘’The Kano state government views the incident with great concern as there is a strong rumour going around that some strong forces within the APC whose eyes are on Kano Election Petition Tribunals are bent on repeating what they did in 2019. They are all out to use whatever means to sway justice as was done previously.’’

‘’It is an open secret that these strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano state, ‘’the statement said.

‘’No doubt, all eyes are looking at the direction of the former Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje whose accession to the APC national chairmanship was opposed by senior and founding members of the party and indeed majority of Nigerians because of various allegations cases of corruption.” He certainly feels emboldened by what is generally perceived as his unfortunate and undemocratic selection as APC chairman who is rumoured to be all out to influence the outcome of various Election Petition Tribunals in Kano in particular and other states in general.’’

Read Also: Kano Govt. inaugurates committee to screen 10,800 workers employed by Ganduje

‘’The state government views this as a litmus test for present administration to show Nigerians its commitment to fighting corruption and defending democratic principles by ensuring that this case is thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted. The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected Judge.’’

‘’However, the government views with delight the action of the Tribunal chairperson Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge as a positive testimony that there is still hope in the Nigerian judiciary and there are Judges and Justices with high sense of integrity abound in our country.’’

The state government also thanks the good people of Kano that voted for the NNPP into power with well over one million votes at a time when it didn’t have federal, state, local government and financial resources.

The government therefore notes and appreciates the readiness of Kano people to defend their mandate through whatever means possible.