Nigerian Judge Steps Down Case After Graft Charge

Justice Jonathan Shakarho of the Federal High Court, Ibadan,  today adjourned indefinitely, the contempt charge and substantive suit brought against Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of Oyo State as he awaits the decision of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the allegation of receiving a bribe of N50million.

The 35th applicant, Mr. Yekinni Atoyebi had petitioned  the Chief Justice of Nigeria alleging that Justice Shakarho vacated the interim injunction he granted the applicants in exchange for N50million.

At the resumed sitting, Justice Shakarho refused to go on with the case, saying “No aspect of the case is going on. It appears that no aspect of the suit is going on. We can’t go on with the case by the undoing of some of the plaintiffs. I am leaving the case as it is. When there is a directive from my chief judge, we will go on”.

Justice Shakarho also stated in the open court that he had no interest in the matter while lamenting that the allegations in the petition were frivolous and unfounded. “Where is Yekinni Atoyebi, he is not in the court today and he always comes. Even the comrade, Akeredolu did not come. This is what he wrote against me. Once one person write against me, we cannot go on. He said in his last paragraph that in my view it is clear we cannot obtain justice before Shakarho. I want other judge to hear the matter. Can I in the face of this go further in this matter. This case is adjourned sine die. ‘Case yi o ti ba je’.(The case has gone bad) They shoot themselves on the leg. It is their own case, if they want to put block on it, ‘kilo kan mi ni be”(what is my business in it), he stated. He further said that he would respectfully respond to the allegations when called upon to do so by the chief judge of the Federal High Court. He admitted that a copy of the petition was sent to him while waving it in the open court.

The counsel to the applicants, Sanyaolu Akinyele had requested the court to strike out the name of the petitioner in the suit for the case to continue, but the judge insisted that he would not go on with the case until he received further directives from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

Counsel to the defendant, Chief Richard Akinjide agreed with the judge saying that he had taken the right step. Counsel to Akala, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) though noted that the case was tempting but the judge had taken a right step for halting the suit pending further directives.