A group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to investigate the comment credited to Rep. Yusuf Gagdi, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has some collaborators within the Nigerian judiciary.
National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, made the call in a statement on Tuesday in Jos.
Recalled that Gagdi, in a viral video allegedly boasting at a rally in the state about APC’s connections at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/ kanam federal constituency of Plateau, allegedly bragged in the video that his party will influence the decision of the Supreme Court on the petition challenging the outcome of the governorship election in the state.
But Onwubiko called on the CJN to reconsider his assertion that the court is not moved by public opinion and investigate this matter to a logical conclusion.
”The sarcastic comment credited to Rep. Yusuf Gagdi is damaging to the reputation of the Supreme Court and needs to be investigated by the CJN.
”It is the silence of the judicial authority on this sort of statements that give the public the impression that the judges can be purchased by the highest bidders.
”Public opinions that are constructive and factually accurate should matter to the nation’s judiciary and the law is made for the people and must work for the people.
”It is wrong for the head of an arm of government to resist public opinion even when the constitution in section 14 (2) (a) provides that ‘Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all its powers and authority.”Onwubiko said.