.Retired judicial officers urge S’Court to avoid embarrassment, affirm Yusuf’s election

A group, Volunteers for Democracy and Good Governance has said the actions of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) against the Court of Appeal judgment that sacked Abba Yusuf as Kano State Governor will not deter the judiciary from doing justice.

The political interest group, while criticising the visit of NNPP to European Union (EU), African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) missions in Abuja, insisted the expedition would not fetch Yusuf victory at the Supreme Court.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, in Kano, leader of the group and former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Usman Alhaji, accused the NNPP government of orchestrating public disturbance and violence, in an attempt to intimidate the court.

The APC stalwart said NNPP’s action contradicted international norms and diplomacy as well as charter signed in a series of bilateral and multilateral agreements.

On the alteration in the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the appellate court judgment on the Kano governorship appeal, he urged for thorough investigation to unmask the faceless elements that perpetrated the action and make them face the law.

But a group of retired judicial personnel, under the aegis of Transparent Justice Initiative, has urged the apex court to affirm what it termed popular victory’ of Yusuf and save the judiciary from further embarrassment.

According to the group, the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and should reflect so in its verdicts, especially on election matters.

“Worried by the appellate court verdict and subsequent erroneous impressions in the public domain, as a group of retired personnel, we want to reassure Nigerians that the Supreme Court, as the final arbiter and the last resort for dispute resolution, will ensure justice prevailed, “ it stated.

In a statement signed by its coordinator, Stanley Kingsley in Kaduna, the group, which expressed confidence in the Supreme Court said: “Over the years, it has demonstrated ability to protect the rule of law, ensure supremacy of law and safeguard rights of individuals.

“We have no doubt in our minds that the Supreme Court will critically study the tribunal and appellate court judgments to ensure that voices and rights of the people, which are of utmost importance, are guaranteed as stipulated in our constitution and Electoral Act.”