We’ll ensure Kano tribunal judges adhere to rule of law, Abba Yusuf tells protesters

Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, has promised “to do all that it takes” to protect the mandate of the state’s residents.

The governor spoke while addressing a crowd of protesters at the government house in Kano on Monday.

Earlier, some residents of Kano staged a protest over an alleged plot to influence the verdict of the governorship election petition tribunal.

The demonstration followed the alarm raised by Flora Azinge, chairperson of Kano state national and state houses of assembly election petition tribunal, that some lawyers were attempting to bribe judges to influence the court’s verdict.

Azinge had alleged that money “has been flying around the tribunal” and warned that nobody should approach her with money or collect any financial inducement on her behalf.

The tribunal had adjourned sitting for the adoption of final written addresses to today, and the police had announced that both the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the New Nigerian People Party (NNPP) would mobilise street protests against the sitting.

Speaking to the protesters, Yusuf said he would present the crowd’s concerns to President Bola Tinubu, who would “act justifiably” on them.

He added that the government would “ensure that judges that are charged with the responsibility of making fair judgements conform to the rule of law”.

“I am delivering this letter to Mr President and commander in chief hand to hand. And we have confidence that Mr President as an elder statesman, as a trustworthy individual and president of the federal republic of Nigeria, is going to act justifiably on your complaints — especially on the issue of bribes, especially to judges to manipulate the outcome of the election tribunal,” the governor said.

“We also condemn in totality the attempt by other politicians to bribe our judges, especially here in Kano. The issue, I don’t want to say much about it.

“But, one thing I am assuring you about is that, even at the state level, we are going to do all that it takes to protect your mandate, to ensure that judges that are charged with the responsibility of making fair judgements conform to the rule of law.

“Let me also seize this opportunity to that one of the judges of the tribunal that exposed the lawyers that went to bribe her. We want to assure all the judges that we are also committed to ensuring free and fair judgement.”

In March, Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat Yusuf Gawuna of APC to become Kano governor. The opposition filed a petition challenging the victory in court.