Judge suspended for bribery nullifies Alex Otti’s candidacy
Controversial judge Mohammed Yunusa has nullified the participation of Governor-elect Alex Otti in the March 18 governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
In a ruling that is already being contested by the country’s notable legal minds, Mr Yunusa declared that the Labour Party in Abia State did not submit its party register to INEC 30 days before the primary elections and thereby rendered the nominations of the party’s candidates void.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has opined that the judge’s ruling erred in law in a way that could subject the judiciary to public ridicule
“This type of judgement has the potential of exposing the judiciary to avoidable public ridicule,” he tweeted on Friday.
“The judgement of the Federal High Court in Kano cannot stand in law. The issue of submission of a party’s membership register to INEC cannot be the basis for disqualification of candidates.
It cannot be the basis for nullifying primaries across the country.It is also belated,” he added.
Mr Yunusa’s latest controversial ruling brings his past corrupt practices to the fore of the discussion. In 2016, the National Judicial Council (NJC) found him guilty of bribery and other judicial misconduct and recommended that he be forced to retire.
President Muhammadu Buhari declined to ratify the NJC recommendation, putting the issue on hold for five years and forcing the judicial body to reinstate Mr Yunusa.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
NationWide
Nigeria positioned to power clean energy Future: Tinubu
Mr Tinubu expressed his firm commitment to improve the developmental partnership between the European Union and Nigeria.
Africa
Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone roll out malaria vaccines
With the announcement on World Malaria Day, the number of African countries incorporating the vaccines into their childhood immunisation programmes increased to eight.
NationWide
Group urges FG to decongest custodial centres after Suleja jailbreak
”We also call on the public to pay more attention to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria.”
Politics
PDP unveils 200-member campaign council for Edo 2024 guber election
The advisory council has seven eminent members of the state.
Africa
ECOWAS moves to tackle drug abuse in Sierra Leone, other countries
ECOWAS said the workshop was also to support efforts to tackle drug abuse and provide resources and strategies for member states, particularly Sierra Leone.
Lagos
FG to resume resurfacing of Third Mainland Bridge: Official
She said that the exact dates for the renewed construction would be announced soon.