‘Choose between your life or bribe’ — Kano commissioner threatens tribunal judges

Adamu Aliyu, commissioner for land in Kano, has issued a threat to the judges of the governorship election petition tribunal in the state.

Speaking on Thursday after a special prayer session held for the success of Abba Yusuf,  governor of Kano, at the tribunal, Aliyu said any judge who decides to receive a bribe would have to pay with his or her life.

In a viral video in which he spoke in Hausa language, the commissioner also threatened anyone who tries to contend for the governorship position with death.

“I would like to pass this message to the tribunal judges, any judge that allows himself to be used and collects bribe to pass judgment that is not right, we want to tell him he must choose between his life or the money he collected,” Aliyu said.

“We are promising you (our supporters), we are receiving your complaints, the votes you cast for his excellency (Abba Yusuf) will not go in vain even if it means us losing our lives.

“I also want to pass this message to our leaders. You have seen the crisis in Zamfara, Kaduna, Jigawa, Katsina and other states, I swear because of this governorship seat, everyone will die. 

“The crisis that will start in Kano will be more deadly than the one in other states, even Borno too.”

Reacting, a group known as the APC Intellectual Forum described the commissioner’s statement as “barbaric and provocative”.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate in Kano, Nasir Gawuna, are challenging Yusuf’s victory in the March 18 poll.

The tribunal has reserved judgment on the petition.

In August, Flora Azinge, chairperson of the election petitions tribunal in Kano, raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by some lawyers to compromise the integrity of judges on her panel.

“A senior advocate of Nigeria who has a pending case before me is attempting to bribe me,” the judge had said.

“Money has been flowing into this tribunal since yesterday. Whoever accepts money on my behalf, God will punish that person and their descendants up to the fourth generation.

“They continue to vilify judges, insulting us every day in the newspapers, in the media, claiming that we are corrupt.

“Let me reiterate once again that no one should approach me with money. I am content with what God has provided for me, and I have a roof over my head.”

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had issued a statement promising to investigate the allegation raised by the judge.