The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, against undue interferences in the activities of various election petition tribunals and other judicial cases in the country.
The PDP gave the warning on Monday sequel to what it called “reports of undue interferences, emanating from her (Bulkachuwa’s) office, in the activities of various election petition tribunals and other judicial cases, ostensibly to sway them against the PDP and in favour of the APC”.
The opposition party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, further cautioned that such complete interference was unacceptable to it as it principally detracts from the sanctity of the judiciary as the citadel of justice and erodes the trust reposed on it by the people.
Rather, the PDP advised the President of the Court of Appeal to understand that an impartial judiciary is critical to the survival of the nation’s democracy and the stability of this nation.
It thus urged 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 statement reads: “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alerts the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, of reports of undue interferences, emanating from her office, in the activities of various election petition tribunals and other judicial cases, ostensibly to sway them against the PDP and in favour of the APC.
“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 erodes 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.
“Furthermore, we wish to reiterate our earlier call on the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, to guard jealously the independence of the judiciary which he heads, and ensure that any activity that tends to undermine the sanctity of this arm of government is stiffly resisted in the interest of democracy.
“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”.
