The All Progressives Congress (APC) has petitioned the Supreme Court against three of its Justices over the controversy surrounding the candidacy of the party in the Dec. 5 2020 Imo North Senatorial by-election.
The petition was signed by its Acting National Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
The party accused Justices Mohammed Dattijo, Abdu Aboki and Helen Ogunwumiju of holding nocturnal meeting with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to scheme out the party from the Senate seat.
It was learnt that Justice Mohammed Dattijo, during the proceedings to hear the appeal by the APC candidate Mr Chukwuemeka Ibezim on his disqualification by the lower courts announced the suspension of proceedings pending the resolution of the damaging petition.
Dattijo who led a 5-member panel of Justices of the apex court said that the APC had by the petition called the integrity, reputation and honour of the 3 Justices to question and must be resolved first before any other thing.
Justice Datijo said: “Let me confirm to all counsel in this matter that the Interim National Chairman of APC had written a petition against me and two other Justices of this court, namely Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki accusing us of having a meeting with members of PDP to subvert justice in the case.
“They alleged that my humble self had led my two brothers to attend a meeting with members of the PDP to strategize on how to subvert the outcome of this case.
” I must say that this is most unfortunate and my heart bleeds for this country. We are not interested in any matter and I challenge him and the party to substantiate his allegation that my humble self attended a meeting with members of the PDP with a view to subverting the interest of their party.
“This is a reckless and irresponsible statement. That is how these useless statements were made in the past and that is why we are not taking it likely.
” If they have honour, let them substantiate their allegations and I will not leave a day longer in this court.
” So, this matter is adjourned sine-die (Indefinitely) and parties should approach the Chief Justice of the Federation”.
However, Malam Ahmed Raji SAN, counsel to Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume, a senatorial aspirant of APC dissociated himself from the petition adding that he was shocked to hear about the allegations made against the Justices.
He said, “this is very shocking, I swear with my last day in this court that I, Ahmed Raji knows nothing about this issue and I condemn it with all the strength.
” I sympathise with your lordships and whatever measure your lordship deems appropriate, we are fully in support” .
The PDP while reacting to the petition, asked Yobe state Governor Mala to resign his position as governor and Interim National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) following the pronouncement of the Supreme Court, which found the leadership of the party as “irresponsible and reckless”, for engaging in unsubstantiated allegations against the justices of apex court.
In a statement issued by its spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said it’s indeed appalling that “the illegal Mai Buni leadership of the APC could, in their penchant for falsehood, go to the extent of falsely accusing the Justices of the Supreme Court of holding a meeting with PDP leaders allegedly to subvert justice, in a case, in which the PDP is not even a party.”
“The pronouncement of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, has ultimately vindicated our stand that the APC is a party of irresponsible, reckless and dishonorable persons, who only thrive in fabrications, falsehood, lies, blackmail and character assassination.
“It is shameful that after mismanaging its nomination process in the Imo North Senatorial bye-election, the APC leadership is seeking to drag our party into its vicious attempt to use the instrument of blackmail and character assassination against the justices of the Supreme Court to settle their internal scores.
“While it is obvious that the APC is plagued with political cannibalism, infighting and backstabbing, it is shocking that it will carry its wild tendencies to this ridiculous extent.
“The assertion by the Supreme Court that ‘if people as highly placed as the interim chairperson of the APC would open his mouth and make this weighty statement against innocent justices of this court…” places a huge moral burden and integrity question on Governor Mai Buni.
“Our party holds that the declaration by Supreme Court that the APC has been making such “useless statements” in the past further vindicates our stand that the APC is ethically challenged and should not have been entrusted with governance.
“Our party therefore demands that Alhaji Mai Buni should immediately resign as governor and APC chairperson, having been indicted by the Supreme Court, after which he should face the court to answer for his baseless and “irresponsible” allegation.
“Furthermore, the PDP charges the APC to leave our party alone and face its self-inflicted woes in the courts.”
