Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused Nigerian courts of playing an ignoble role in fostering political crises across the country, just as he said President Tinubu should prioritise the country’s interest ahead of political ambition.
Atiku’s spokesperson, Paul Ibe stated this in a statement where he also quoted his principal warning against creating turmoil in Rivers.
The Wazirin Adamawa also berated Justice Abdulmalik’s decision to issue the order, given that it was widely known that the legality of Rivers State’s 2024 budget was already under appeal.
“We call on the Nigerian judiciary to restore its image before it gets too late,” Atiku stated.
“Nigeria should not descend to the Hobbesian state of nature where life is short, nasty and brutish, where citizens opt for self-help. Rivers State accounts for almost 25% of Nigeria’s oil assets. For a country facing an economic crisis worsened by vandalism and banditry, Tinubu should put his 2027 ambition aside and put Nigeria’s interest first.
“Last week, the Court of Appeal declared that the Rivers State budget was illegal because it was passed by an inchoate assembly. The court ordered Governor Siminalayi Fubara to present the budget afresh.
“The Rivers State Government has already filed a notice of appeal so that the Supreme Court can hear the matter. However, some elements in the Bola Tinubu administration have procured a judgement intended to undermine the Supreme Court.
“Even before the judgment was delivered, legal luminary Femi Falana (SAN) had alerted the Chief Justice of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, of possible compromise after house gifts had been presented to judges in Abuja. Sadly, Falana’s warning was ignored.”
Atiku told the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to ensure that those who are at fault be disciplined to help restore the judiciary’s diminishing reputation.
The statement added “The former Vice President said Nigeria has descended into the theatre of the absurd since the Tinubu administration took office.
“Courts are playing a more ignoble role in fostering political crises within political parties and even in states. From the emirship tussle in Kano State to the Rivers imbroglio where courts are going as far as preventing elections from holding, taking Nigeria back to the dark days of June 12, 1993, when polls were annulled.
“Sadly, under the leadership of those who claim to have fought for Nigeria’s democracy, the country is descending into chaos with conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction flying all over the place while judges are being induced in the name of empowerment and provision of houses.
“The result is that Nigerians are gradually losing confidence in an institution which prides itself as the last hope of the common man. Foreign investors will avoid any place where judgments can be bought by the highest bidder.”
