From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
Perturbed by what they termed as contradictory and controversial verdict of the Appeal Court in its judgment of the Kano State governorship polls, no fewer than 200 lawyers from the 19 states in the north and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have voluntarily thrown their weights behind the embattled Governor State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) towards reclaiming his mandate at the Supreme Court.
The lawyers under the auspices of Abba Kabir Yusuf Volunteer Lawyers Forum of the 19 northern states and Abuja at a press conference in Kaduna, yesterday, expressed concerns over the verdict, and urged that the rule of law should be obeyed to ensure that the votes of every Nigerian count during elections.
Chairman of the group, Mr. Yusuf Ado Ibrahim, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Supreme Court not to allow Nigeria become a one party state.
“Historically, going by the antecedent of our dear country Nigeria, our past leaders like Sir Ahmadu Bello of the blessed memory and others have always respected the rule of law and democracy, and it is based on this that we appeal to our President, Bola Tinubu and the judiciary to save our democracy and ensure that the votes of the electorate as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria count. This is not unconnected with the fact that the good people of Kano State have voted massively in favour of Abba Kabir Yusuf so as to allow him carry on the good work his predecessors have started in Kano State,” the group said.
The group at the briefing, also demanded a reworking of the Electoral Act. “It is pertinent to state here that the Electoral Act needs a holistic reworking in order to address these anomalies of our judicial system and democracy, if we must save it. Pre-election matters must be addressed as no longer litigable issues after the winner of an election has been declared.
“The issues are too numerous to mention. But, we are all seated here believing in the strong will of a free and fair judicial system. We believe honestly in the powers of true democratic system and are still optimistic in the judicial system so much that we admit the fallibility of our justices as humans. We are hopeful that the apex Court would do the right thing without any sentiments by paying attention to issues surrounding the just delivered judgments.
“It is our optimism that the lot of the common man in Kano State will be protected and the yearnings of our people respected. We strongly believe that the apex court will do justice by affirming and categorically stating that the duly elected governor of Kano State is Abba Kabir Yusuf, whose adequate votes were cast by the populist approval of the people of Kano State.
“And on this hope, we volunteer as private legal practitioner across the 19 northern states of the country to participate in solidarity with Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, to represent the truth in the fight to reclaim his mandate and that of the people of Kano State. We have all seen, for those of us that have read the judgment, how the final closing decision of the lead judge in the case, specifically on page 67, where five paragraphs were contradictory. These cannot be an oversight. If it is a mistake as they have stated, it is indeed an unforgivable one.
“We passionately and respectfully call on the Supreme Court to resist any form of external interference either from the executive or any other body to protect the image of the judiciary and uphold the rule of law.
“We depend on a system that is clearly set to bring us to an inevitable end. Almost every judgment or decision will be replete with traces of unimaginable conclusions. Truth be told, you are no longer sure of the outcome of the courts decisions in this country even if you are a legal practitioner, no matter how knowledgeable you may be,” the group lamented.
The forum noted that the recent judgment by the justices of the Court of Appeal in Abuja between Governor Yusuf and the APC was a clear miscarriage of Justice.
“This is my humble opinion, even though it might not necessarily be the popular opinion. The first trace of this error by the Justices started with the disposition of the trial tribunal, when on the date of the court’s judgment, it avoided a full court and open hearing of its judgment, and resorted to rendering the decisions of the court via the internet.
Responding to questions from newsmen, another member, Usman Ashafa, said the contradictory judgment of the Appeal Court left much to be desired.
He said the errors discovered in the CTC in five paragraphs were unforgivable in law.