Election Tribunal: Kano Govt. decries attempt to bribe Judge

By Aminu Garko

The Kano State Government has decried the alleged attempt to bribe a sitting judge of the State Election Petition Tribunal.

Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, Chairman of the Kano State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, raised the alarm on Tuesday.

Azinge said that an attempt was made to bribe a tribunal member with money in order to sway justice in favour of a lawyer’s client.

She bemoaned in open court before the start of the session on Tuesday in Kano, how senior lawyers in particular were engaging in unethical behaviour.

Reacting to the ordeal, a statement signed by the State Commissioner of Information, Malam Baba Halilu Dantiye, read: “The attention of the Kano State Government has been drawn to an allegation made by the chairman of the Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway justice, as according to her, “money has been flying in the Tribunal”.

Dantiye said the state government viewed the incident with great concern as there is a strong rumour that some “strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano State”.

According to him, the incident served as a litmus test for the current administration to demonstrate to Nigerians its commitment to fighting corruption and protecting democratic norms by ensuring that the matter was adequately investigated and the perpetrators were prosecuted.

“The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action, especially when this type of allegation is made in open court by a respected Judge,” he said.

He added that the government viewed with delight the action of Justice Azinge as a positive testimony.

“There is still hope in the Nigerian judiciary, and that Judges and Justices with a high sense of integrity abound in our country.

“Also, the state government thanked the good people of Kano that voted the NNPP into power with well over one million votes at a time when they didn’t have federal, state, local government, or financial resources.

“Therefore, the government notes and appreciates the readiness of Kano people to defend their mandate through whatever means possible,” Dantiye added.

NAN