Lawyers caution against defamatory comments about judiciary over verdict sacking Kano governor

A group of lawyers known as Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law has warned against a “campaign of calumny” against the judiciary. 

The group said Farooq Kperogi, a Nigerian professor based in the US, should refrain from making disparaging remarks about the nation’s judiciary.

The lawyers said some “anti-democratic elements” have been engaging in smear campaigns against the judiciary, particularly after the appeal court ruling that removed Abba Yusuf as the governor of Kano.

On Friday, the appellant court in Abuja affirmed the verdict of the Kano governorship election petition tribunal sacking Yusuf.

In the judgment delivered on Friday, the court held that the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) breached the constitution by sponsoring Yusuf, who was not a member of the party when the election was held.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, M.I Gardo, the group’s secretary, said the court’s judgment was “impartial, independent, and strong” in the face of intimidation by political actors.

Gardo said Nigerians should resist any attempt to mock and undermine the judiciary.

“As a body of lawyers dedicated to the defence of the rule of law and democracy in Nigeria, we wish to draw the attention of the vast majority of Nigerians to the implication of the actions on the reputation and integrity of the court of appeal,” the statement reads.

“While it is succinct to state that the Justices of the Court of Appeal delivered a sound judgment in line with the provisions of the law, the diatribe perpetuated by the NNPP and its hirelings smacks of mockery and an attempt to ridicule the judiciary.

“It must be stated that Abba Kabiru Yusuf’s nomination as the Candidate of the NNPP for the March 18 Kano State Governorship election was in clear breach of Section 177(1c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

The group said some supporters of the NNPP under the Kwankwasiyya movement, “adopt” violence and falsehood” in their political activities.

“We urge the NNPP group to immediately sever every tie with the movement,” Gardo said.

“This anti-democratic tendency of the group has been much evident in the serial campaigns of calumny and tantrums it has continued to throw at the respected honourable justices of the Court of Appeal instead of towing the path of democracy and rule of law by appealing the judgement if it is dissatisfied with the ruling.

“We further observed that the ultimate aim is to cause disrepute to the Justices of the Court of Appeal and discredit the judiciary’s impartiality in Nigeria.

“This action is an affront and an assault that must be rebuffed.”