S’ Court Verdict On Soludo: Anambra Gov’t Calls For Punishment Of Erring Judges

The government of Anambra State, Friday, urged the Supreme Court to punish members of the Bar who bring to courts matters meant to ridicule the judiciary, as well as those of the Bench who entertain such suits and pass judgments on them.

Mr C. Don Adinuba, the state commissioner for information and public enlightenment, stated this while reacting to the apex court’s judgement that comnfirmed Prof Charles Soludo as the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance for the November 6 governorship election in the state. He said the Supreme Court ‘has demonstrated that the Nigerian judiciary is a temple of justice’.

Our correspondent reported that the Supreme Court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal sitting in Kano that Chief Victor Oye is the authentic national chairman of APGA. To this end, Oye was statutorily right to have submitted the candidate of the party to INEC ahead of the polls scheduled for November 6. Prof Soludo’s candidacy would have been nullity if Mr Oye had lost at the apex court.

Mr Adinuba stated that, “The Supreme Court has, once again, demonstrated that the Nigerian judiciary is a temple of justice. It does not just comply with the letter of the law, but also acts in accordance with the spirit of the law. It provides hope for not just the common man, but also all citizens, regardless of class, gender, ethnicity or faith.

“There is massive rejoicing throughout Anambra State. The Supreme Court justices have met the expectations and wishes of the people. Public confidence in the judiciary has been restored, despite the activities of a few members of the bench, like Mr Justice Musa Ubale of the Jigawa State High Court at Birnin Kudu, who last June 30 gave a preposterous judgment over the APGA leadership by assuming territorial jurisdiction over a development which happened in Awka, Anambra State.  

“The Supreme Court should not stop at providing the right judgments on cases but punish members of the Bar who bring to courts matters meant to ridicule the judiciary and of the Bench who entertain such suits and pass judgments on them.

“Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme of the Court of Appeal in Awka served as the conscience of the nation when she, in the open court on Tuesday, August 3, excoriated such legal professionals who run helter-skelter from one court to another in Birnin Kudu and Owerri as well as Enugu in what lawyers call forum shopping.

“The section on Public Interest and Development Law of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), led by Dr Monday Ubani, also lived up to its reputation as the conscience of our society when it criticized such lawyers, particularly senior lawyers among them, whose conduct bring their profession to public odium.

“The NBA, led by Olumide Akpata, also rose to the challenge of the day by not only criticizing such members of the Bar and the Bench, but also setting up a panel to look into their behaviour. The Nigerian democracy is on the march. And the judiciary is on the right path.”