NBA-SPIDEL to Probe Kano Election Tribunal Bribery Scandal 

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has set up a three-man Committee, to unravel bribery allegations trailing the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal, even as the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Flora Azinge had stated that a staff of the Tribunal is under probe for a financial transfer.

In a press statement release, signed by its Chairman, John Aikpokpo-Martins, and Secretary, Funmi Adeogun, SPIDEL commended the Chairman of the Kano State Election Tribunal, for voicing out the fact that attempts have been made by a Senior Advocate to bribe, and by extension, compromise the Tribunal; and more importantly, that money has been shamelessly flying around in the Tribunal for some time. and strongly condemns these evil practices and attempts to compromise the integrity of the Tribunal by unscrupulous legal practitioners.’’ It must be stated that, attempts to bribe Judges and pervert justice are not only criminal in nature, but also amounts to infractions of the Rules of Professional Conduct. Any Lawyer who engages in attempts to compromise the integrity of the court or any of its officers is a disgrace, and an embarrassment to the legal profession’’ 

SPIDEL also noted, unfortunately, that the Honourable Chairman has sought to modify her earlier statement, and we hope that this modification is not arising from pressures on her. To keep silent, is to enable malfeasance and perpetuate irresponsible behaviour.

“May we reiterate that the later modification of the earlier statement of the Honourable Chairman of Tribunal, is very surprising and confusing’’.

SPIDEL is willing and ready to take this matter up to ensure that the said Senior Advocate is made to face the wrath of the law as a scapegoat. We would not be satisfied, except the Senior Advocate is called out by the Honourable Chairman.

We, therefore, call on the Honourable Chairman, Honourable Justice Flora Azinge, to boldly and courageously disclose the name of the Senior Advocate and other senior Lawyers (if any) involved in this scandalous attempt to compromise the integrity of the Tribunal. This call is expedient and the grant of same by the Honourable Chairman is imperative, to enable SPIDEL to do the needful in accordance with her mandate and in furtherance of the objectives of the Rules of Professional Conduct in the Legal Profession, which makes it a duty upon every Lawyer to report every infraction of the RPC to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.

The nation is watching as the legal profession is now in the eye of the storm by the allegations. We owe ourselves the sacred duty to protect the nobility of the legal profession, maintain the sanctity of our courts, and defend the integrity of the Judiciary.

In light of the above, SPIDEL hereby constitutes a team to investigate these allegations. The team is made up of:

1. Kunle Edun (Warri Branch)

2. Yakubu S. Bawa (Jos Branch)

3. Abiye Tam-George (Lagos Branch)

The team is expected to submit a report to SPIDEL, within the next 10 days. The statement further added.