A coalition of youth groups and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the Niger-Delta region on Sunday condemned what they described as a flagrant miscarriage of justice perpetrated on the Kano State citizens who in their numbers voted wholly for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) governorship candidate, Abba Yusuf.
The coalition made the call during a press conference at Hotel Presidential in Portharcourt, South-South Nigeria, as reactions continue to trail the recent controversial judgement delivered by the Appeal Court in the Kano State governorship elections.
Comrade Austin Podoki who addressed newsmen on behalf of the coalition condemned the series of judgements, sadly noted that it was clear to all that the judiciary had never had it this bad in the country, declaring that the rule of law was also under strain.
According to him, the various conflicting and contradictory cases and judgements from the tribunals and now the appellate court have made the average Nigerian feel that the judiciary is no longer the last “hope for the common man.
“The feeling now is that the judiciary is a tool in the hands of the political class to help it achieve its aim against the people,” Podoki said.
He, however, demanded that the judiciary must immediately look inward to correct the negative impression that Nigerians had about it, saying that “the National Judicial Council must investigate all that occurred with the Tribunals and Court of Appeal in the Zamfara, Plateau cases and especially with the Kano State gubernatorial Appeal Court decision.”
While making the demand, Podoki said it was glaringly clear to even youths in the South-South that the contradictory nature of the lead judgement in the Kano Appeal case was scandalous and an indicator of what Nigerians saw about the judiciary.
He pointed out that a couple of paragraphs and sentences “cannot be defined as clerical error,” saying even though Nigerians may keep quiet that does not show they are fools.
“Here, we believe and see that there has been great and high-level injustice; INJUSTICE IN HIGH PLACES!” Podoki said.
“Even to us as youths in the South-South, it is glaringly clear that the contradictory nature of the lead judgement in the Kano appeal case is scandalous and is an indicator of what the people of Nigeria see about the judiciary!
“A couple of paragraphs and sentences cannot be defined as clerical error. Nigerians may keep quiet but we are not fools. Here we believe and see that there has been great and high-level injustice; injustice in high places!” he said.
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