Rivers APC Accuses Four Judges Of Selling Judgments

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Rivers State chapter,  has accused four judges in the state Judiciary of issuing ‘black market’ injunctions.

The party also gave journalists the names of the judges.

The party in a statement signed by spokesman, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, said the alleged actions of the judges have largely contributed to the wrong impression across the country that the Rivers State Judiciary had become a notorious trading post.

The APC disclosed that it had petitioned the National Judicial Council on the said judges, accusing them of debasing the integrity of the Judiciary.

The statement said,  “We had earlier promised that we would release the names of judges who are toying with the law, and incessantly betraying the oath of office that they swore to uphold.

“These judges appointed by the present administration, who in many instances have allowed themselves to descend into the arena of justice, are … (names withheld).

“Accordingly, the APC has petitioned these judges who are young on the bench, but who appear to be acting a script, to the NJC. We urge the NJC to invite these judges for questioning without any further delay.”

The party said it was a pity that some state chief justices, including that of Rovers, had been summoned by the NJC as a result of the alleged misconduct of some  judges in their states.

APC said, “These judges are truly the ones who should have been invited to face the NJC.

“Against this backdrop, we urge the NJC which is appalled by the conduct of some judges across the land to invite these justices in Rivers State to answer for their infamous deeds.

“In the same manner, we also urge the Rivers Chief Judge who may not have a hand, given the independence that judges enjoy, to put his foot down and ensure that erring judges who have the penchant for issuing bread and butter decisions are not allowed to do so at the risk of the reputable image of the entire judiciary.

“Similarly, we have noticed that apart from granting injunctions, these judges now resort to a new tactic of ordering the maintenance of what they consider the status quo.

“Our position is that such orders emanating from the judges under reference, which order parties that appear before them to maintain status quo, is an indirect way of issuing a restraining injunction without actually saying so.

“While we further commend the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association for what they are doing, we believe that their effort to cleanse the Augean stable should be extended to Rivers”.