I have read the letter dated 17th October, 2016 by Justice John Inyang Okoro addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC). I cannot speak for the trio of Messrs. Rotimi Amaechi, Umana Umana and Ebebe Ukpong. But as someone with common sense, with an inquisitive mind the following are my observations in the interim:
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1. Every truthful Nigerian is very aware of the sham that was criminally executed in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States on April 11, 2015 in the name of governorship elections. Both local and international observers agreed that there were no credible elections in the two States.
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2. The Court of Appeal nullified the so-called elections in the two States. Umana Umana and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) were the Petitioners in Akwa Ibom State while Dakuku Peterside (an ally of Amaechi) and the APC were the Petitioners in Rivers State.
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3. The Petitioners ordinarily had no reasons to panick given the gamut of documentary and oral evidence they adduced against the symbolic elections as affirmed by the Court of Appeal. When the cases went to the Supreme Court, the stakes was clearly higher for the beneficiaries of the make-believe elections who were taken aback by the judgments of the Court of Appeal.
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4. Justice Okoro knew that there was no way he would have been made a member of the panel of the Supreme Court that heard the appeals from the Akwa Ibom State election since he is from the State. One wonders why he said in his letter that he had decided to do all within his powers not to be in the panel for Akwa Ibom State. Importantly, as at the time he claimed the duo of Amaechi and Umana visited him separately, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) was yet to constitute the panel that heard the said appeals.
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5. I find it rather intriguing that My Lord Justice Okoro did not make a formal report in writing to the CJN over the alleged visits but only reported orally; no public statement was issued and no report was ever made to the security agencies. Does it mean that Justice Okoro and the Hon. CJN considered the alleged visits 'harmless' and proper or as an internal affair which did not require publicity or the intervention of the law enforcement agencies? Why is Justice Okoro saying this now?
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6. Justice Okoro in his letter did not disclose the exact date and time that Umana allegedly visited him in his residence. How plausible is the allegation that Dr. Ebebe Ukpong, the pastor who he said led Umana to his house, interjected when Umana mentioned that he would like to see the Justices who would be part of the panel because that was not the purpose for their visit? Did they go there to pray with Justice Okoro or to see how his apartment looks like if indeed they visited him? Justice Okoro did not state the purpose for the visit as disclosed to him by the person who led Umana to his house.
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7. What would make anyone in this country to keep cash of USD 38,000 (thirty eight thousand dollars) and N3.5m of legitimate income in his apartment and not in the bank in view of the strict spending inhibitions under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and the associated risk of keeping such huge sums at home? Why did My Lord not deposit the money in his bank accounts? We are talking about nearly N20 million Naira being kept at home by no less a public servant but a judicial officer.
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8. How does the allegations made against Amaechi and Umana affect the merits of the case of corruption levelled against Justice Okoro by the State Security Service (SSS)? My Lord knows too well that his reference to the duo cannot avail him as a defence in any court of law in Nigeria. Is this not an attempt to divert attention from the allegations of corruption levelled against My Lord by the SSS?
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9. What evidence has Justice Okoro presented to prove that indeed Amaechi and Umana visited his residence or should we accept his allegations and believe same simply because he has said so, more so that Amaechi, Umana and Ebebe Ukpong have already denied the allegations?
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10. Before Justice Okoro's letter, it is on record that officials of the Akwa Ibom State Government and officials of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State have been restless and apprehensive over the arrest of Justice Okoro. In one instance, Mr. Uwemedimo Nwoko, Esq., the Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State (just before he was sacked two days ago) went on radio, Planet Fm 101.1 Uyo on Tuesday 11th October, 2016 attacking President Buhari and the SSS and even called for the President's impeachment over the arrest of Justice Okoro and others. One wonders why the case of Justice Okoro with the SSS has troubled the government of Akwa Ibom State in this manner.
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In conclusion, I allign myself with the position taken by the Attorney General of the Federation that those judges who are alleging malice and vendetta should defend themselves in court.
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The on going efforts to sanitize the Judiciary will surely come with a price. However, there is no alternative to a corrupt free judiciary.
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I totally agree with the view of former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais on corrupt judges;
“A corrupt judge is more harmful to the society than a man who runs amok with a dagger in a crowded street. The latter can be restrained physically. But a corrupt judge deliberately destroys the moral foundation of society and causes incalculable distress to individuals through abusing his office while still being
referred to as honorable.”
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Written by Inibehe Effiong
