PDP Raises Alarm Over Court of Appeal’s Interference On Tribunal

The former ruling Peoples Democratic Party today, October 19, raised an alarm over what it believed to be undue interference emanating from the Court of Appeal in a bid to hinder the course of delivering justice at the elections tribunal.

Metuh

The party made this alert of interference in Abuja through its national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, telling the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, of not just undue interferences emanating from her office in the activities of various election petition tribunals but also other judicial cases.

The party added that such process of trying to hinder the delivery of justice would apparently sway the tribunal against the PDP and in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

READ ALSO: Why Saraki Defered Ministerial Nominee Screening — Group

According to the PDP: “While we would not want to believe that the President of the Court of Appeal is so involved, given the sensitivity of her office, we wish to caution in very strong terms, that such is completely unacceptable as it principally detracts from the sanctity of the judiciary as the citadel of justice and erode the trust reposed on it by the people.

“We expect the President of the Court of Appeal to understand that an impartial judiciary is critical to the survival of our democracy and the stability of this nation. In this regard therefore, we urge her to ensure that there is no further interference in electoral matters in tribunals and courts, as they must be allowed to run through the full course of justice.”

The major opposition party further reiterated an earlier call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to guard jealously the independence of the judiciary which he heads.

READ ALSO: Tension In Senate As Screening Of Ministerial Nominees Starts

The party said it had urged the CJN to ensure that any activity that tends to undermine the sanctity of the judicial arm of government would be stiffly resisted in the interest of democracy.

It said in the statement: “In any case, the PDP restates that it will continue to closely monitor proceedings in various tribunals and other judicial cases, and will use every means within the ambit of the law to ensure that nobody, no matter how highly placed, interferes in judicial matters, especially political cases.”

Meanwhile, the problems of the embattled Senate president, Bukola Saraki, have been compounded with the revelation that Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state will testify against him in the ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

The post PDP Raises Alarm Over Court of Appeal’s Interference On Tribunal appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.