PDP convention: Imo party chair, others demand sanction against Oyo judge

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) Imo State chapter, Austin Nwachukwu, his Abia State counterpart, Abraham Amah and the secretary of the South South chapter of the party, George Turnah, have  asked the National Judicial Council ( NJC) to sanction the Justice A.L  Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, over his ex parte order on the opposition party’s national convention.

The trio, who spoke at a press briefing, on Monday, in Abuja, said they have already petitioned the NJC over Justice Akintola’s action.

According to them, it was wrong for the judge to issue an ex parte order, authorizing the PDP to go ahead with its National Convention, when a court of coordinate jurisdiction had earlier given a judgement halting the convention.

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had in a judgment in a suit filed by Nwachukwu, Amah and Turnah, directed the PDP to halt plans for its National Convention scheduled to hold on November 15 and 16, in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

However, Justice Akintola, last week, issued an ex parte order asking the PDP to go ahead with the National Convention as scheduled.

Nonetheless, Nwachukwu, who spoke on behalf of others, said the quick intervention of the NJC in the issue will go a long way in restoring faith in the judiciary.

According to him, “the petitioners rightly contend that Justice Akintola’s action amounts to sitting on appeal over a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction-an act that undermines judicial hierarchy and the sanctity of the rule of law.

“This disturbing development not only threatens the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary but also risks setting a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the justice system.

“We therefore call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to urgently investigate this matter and take decisive action, just as it had done in similar cases involving judicial misconduct in Rivers State, Imo State, and other jurisdictions, where they were seen to have acted promptly as soon as the petitions were received by them.

“The NJC must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and the preservation of judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay.”