A group known as Stand Up Nigeria has made an urgent demand for the relocation of Appeal Court justices from Kano to Abuja due to alleged threats and intimidation by supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The group has called on the NNPP leadership and the Kano State government to publicly disavow the violent threats directed at the Appeal Court justices by the party’s supporters, including a commissioner serving under Governor Abba Yusuf.
Sunday Attah, the National Coordinator of Stand Up Nigeria, made these remarks during a press conference held in Abuja on Saturday.
The group highlighted that the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal recently removed Yusuf from office and declared Nasir Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the legitimate governor of Kano State.
Attah stated, “Given the circumstances at hand, we strongly condemn the actions of the NNPP leadership, who have been resorting to threats against the judges and the general peace in Kano State through their supporters. It is imperative that they realize that attempting to intimidate the judiciary in order to sway the judges in their favor would only lead to a miscarriage of justice, as the law remains unbiased, with a sharp sword.”
He further added, “There is no need to intimidate the judiciary or incite conflict simply because an election has been lost. The term in office is four years, after which a fresh election is conducted. Instead of sponsoring campaigns to tarnish the reputation of highly respected judges on the election petition tribunal and intimidating Appeal Court justices in an attempt to overturn a fair judgment, efforts should be focused on preparing for the next election.”
Attah emphasized, “We must acknowledge that our justices are not invincible. They do not have bulletproof heads or chests. It is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to protect them whenever they face threats. The National Judicial Council (NJC) should swiftly relocate them to a safe environment where they can dispense justice without any fear or favor if their lives are endangered in any state of the federation.”
He concluded, “If any state becomes toxic and poses a threat to the justices, the NJC should transfer them to Abuja. There is no law that stipulates that judgments must be delivered within the state.”
