The Kano state government has raised alarm over allegations of an attempt by a lawyer to bribe a member of the ongoing election tribunal in the state, with intentions to sway the tribunal’s judgment.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reported that the chairman of a Kano State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge, during open court on Tuesday flared over attempts by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, to bribe her.
Although she did not disclose the identity of the senior lawyer, Ms Azinge said the SAN in question has a pending case before the tribunal.
Reacting to the allegation, the state government in a press release issued by Kano Commissioner of Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye on Wednesday, lamented over rumour that strong forces within the opposing All Progressives Congress (APC) party, are aiming to unlawfully influence the Kano Election Petition Tribunals, similar to their actions in 2019.
READ ALSO: Tinubu assigns portfolios to ministers, Edun gets finance
The statement reads, “the attention of Kano state government has been drawn to an allegation made by the chairman of Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway Justice in favour of his client as according to her, “money has been flying in the Tribunal.”
“The Kano state government views the incidence with a great concern as there is a strong rumour going round that some strong forces within the APC whose eyes are on Kano Election Petition Tribunals are bent on repeating what they did in 2019. They are all out to use whatever means to sway justice as was done previously.
“It is an open secret that these strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard earned mandate of the people of Kano state.
“No doubt, all eyes are looking at the direction of the former Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje whose accession to the APC national chairmanship was opposed by senior and founding members of the party and indeed majority of Nigerians because of various allegations cases of corruption.” He certainly feels emboldened by what is generally perceived as his unfortunate and undemocratic selection as APC chairman who is rumoured to be all out to influence the outcome of various Election Petition Tribunals in Kano in particular and other states in general.
“The state government views this as a litmus test for present administration to show Nigerians its commitment to fighting corruption and defending democratic principles by ensuring that this case is thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted. The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected Judge.
The government also thank Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge for showcasing the positive side of the Nigerian judiciary and highlighting the presence of judges with strong moral integrity within the country’s legal system.
READ ALSO: Tinubu assigns portfolios to ministers, Edun gets finance
In another vein, the Kano state government extends its gratitude to the populace for voting the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) into power, securing a victory with an impressive count of over one million votes.
“The state government also thanks the good people of Kano that voted for the NNPP into power with well over one million votes at a time when it didn’t have federal, state, local government and financial resources.
“The government therefore notes and appreciates the readiness of Kano people to defend their mandate through whatever means possible.”
