News

PDP Crises: CJ Moves To Reconcile Conflicting Court orders

Published

10 years ago

August 22, 2016

Anger/Confusion Trails One Year Extension For Makarfi As Sheriff Holds On To Chairmanship
Dokpesi Talks Tough, Disowns Govs’ Actions

Abuja The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Ndahi Auta may
have taken steps to correct inconsistencies in court pronouncements, especially over
the leadership tussle in the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, over which the integrity of the judiciary has been challenged. Our correspondent learnt that Justice Auta who cut short his
vacation outside the country and returned to Abuja has ordered for cases files relating to the matter to 37 be brought to him with a view to consolidating issues in the various
applications, even as he may have frowned at the conducts of some judges in the matter.
Sources close to the Federal High Court hinted that, the fiery Chief Judge has equally requested each of the judges handling matters relating to the PDP imbroglio to adequately brief him, so that he can take steps to correct impressions created about the judges to the effect that they have been compromised.
Our correspondent reports that the chief judge had made earlier attempts to arrest the situation, by directing all judges handling PDP matters to strictly look at issues from the legal view point, and to avoid being influenced by politicians.
It may be recalled that different pronouncements by different judges over the PDP leadership crisis seems to be taking toll on the integrity of the judiciary, necessitating the latest moves to arrest the situation.
While some initially made sense, and portrayed the excellence for which the Nigerian judiciary has been know for, others made a mockery of the judiciary, to the effect that recent pronouncements by judges of the Federal High Court in matters relating to the leadership tussle in the PDP, may draw the ire of the higher authorities.
And so, apparently embarrassed with conflicting court orders and judgments coming from High Court Judges arising from the numerous litigations in the PDP leadership tussle, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta may have began moves in order to correct public impressions about court pronouncements.
Sources said the CJ who returned from a trip abroad was not pleased with some of the issues arising from recent court orders, and is set to probe the conducts of some judges alleged to have compromised due processes and the law in the discharge of their duties.
Our correspondent reports that, several petitions may have flooded the National Judicial Commission, NJC and the office of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Courts, complaining about judgments in the PDP leadership imbroglio and the conduct of some judges who may have delivered unfavourable judgments, prompting the NJC to commence investigations into the allegations, which have tended to impugned on the integrity of the judiciary.
Sources close to the Executive secretary of the NJC confirmed to us that, there are several petitions bordering on alleged misconduct by judges, some of which were adjudged to be grievous, and cannot be swept under the carpet, hence the Chief Justice of the Federation’s unreserved interest in them.
According to the source, the several scathing remarks against the judiciary from Nigerians leave the judicial arm with no choice than to make a holistic purge of the system, and may have forwarded the petitions to the affected judges for their comments before full investigation commences.
It was not immediately clear how many petitions have so far been written, but our correspondent confirms that there was a petition on Justice N. Ogbonna of the FCT High Court over the matter. We also reliably gathered that there is a petition on Justice Liman of the Port Harcourt High Court, the details of which are not yet clear.
Sources close to the NJC told us that, the investigations may cover the controversial vacation of the order by the Federal High Court Lagos on May 12 and 20th, which restrained the PDP from appointing or electing persons into the offices of the National Chairman, National Secretary and National Auditor of the PDP, by the Port Harcourt Division of the Court.
Controversy was sparked off when Justice Liman of the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court seemingly arrested Justice Ibrahim Buba’s orders even when he knew that the matter was pending before another judge of coordinate jurisdiction, and there was a subsisting order of the court on the matter. That order had not been vacated, before he went ahead validating the appointment of the caretaker Committee, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi.
In seeming desperation to pave way for the aborted convention of May 21, politicians approached the court in Port Harcourt and cajoled the court to grant their request, thereby opening the floodgate for several other conflicting judgments from the courts, consequent upon which several petitions were to follow.
In a move to correct the situation, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta ordered for the consolidation of the earlier suit in Lagos and the Port Harcourt own, but reports indicate that while Justice Buba complied with the directive, Justice Liman, ostensibly with the prompting of some interested parties hastily delivered judgment on the matter.
Auta was said to have been furious and remitted justice Buba’s file back to Lagos with the instruction that he should continue. But in the meantime, Sheriff had approached another Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to revalidate Justice Buba’s orders and nullified Makarfi’s caretaker Committee. The order was granted by Justice Okon Abang, who made spirited moves to make his colleagues respect the procedures to the effect that they should revert to Justice Buba, since his orders were still subsisting.
Several imputations were made interpreting the orders by the judges to suit selfish purposes. But in a seeming move to correct the impression created by Liman’s orders, which created the initial precedence, Justice Abang made far reaching corrective and preservative rulings, all of which were not complied with.
Our correspondent reports that, the contradictory orders seemed to have given some elements in the PDP the leverage to continue manipulating other judges while flagrantly ignoring orders that do not favour them, which led to yet another hasty court judgment by Justice Ibrahim Watila still from the Port Harcourt Division.
Watila had given a nod for the convention to hold, and the police and INEC were pronounced duty bound to ensure its success. The Police however acted otherwise, when they sensed that there may be breakdown of law and order, should the convention be allowed to hold.
Security reports indicated that, while the Governors led by Nyeson Wike of rivers state were plotting to return Jimmy Agbaje as the National Chairman, the duo of Bode George and Raymond Dokpesi; both of them interested in the job were poised for a showdown during the convention, which the police relied upon to abort it, addition to the court orders.
In the aftermath of the aborted convention, Raymond Dokpesi, has disclosed that the court order received by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, frustrated the anointed candidate of the governors elected on the platform of the party, Jimi Agbaje, to emerge as national chairman’
In a statement by Omor Bazuaye, the spokespersons of the Raymond Dokpesi Campaign, on Friday, Dokpesi said the postponement of the convention in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was “a blessing in disguise”, stressing that, it assisted in no small measure to prevent a situation that could have further complicated the crisis with the kind of fictionalization that could have trailed the convention had it gone ahead as scheduled.
For him, Sheriff’s court action was the saving grace as delegate were ready to battle their governors, saying he swallowed his pride to approach Sheriff on the matter, pointing out that once he had spoken with the former Governor of Borno State, he doesn’t believe Sheriff means bad for the PDP.
On its part, the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi and some of the PDP Governors who pushed for the aborted National Convention in Port Harcourt has been thrown into confusion having realized that the extension of 12 months for the caretaker Committee has brought about cracks in their camp.
Since returning to their bases after the aborted convention, nationalTRAIL observed that, those who earlier boasted that the convention must hold seem to have swallowed their pride, as they make frantic attempts to appease Senator Ali Sheriff, who holds tenaciously to the leadership of the PDP.
Our correspondent who have been monitoring events reports that, the suspension of the Port Harcourt convention by justice Okon Abang came to the duo of governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers state and Ayo Fayose of Ekiti as a big surprise, having told their followers earlier that no law can stop the port Harcourt event, as they have already paid their ways with agencies involved in the matter.
The Police, acting on the orders of Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja High Court, halting the exercise had dispersed thousands who thronged the port city for the convention. In apparent confusion, Governor Wike unilaterally elongated the tenured of the Caretaker Committee, hoping to buy time, but other stakeholders do not seem impressed.
Our correspondent reports that their jubilation over a controversial order from Port Harcourt, asking INEC and the Police to monitor the convention was cut short by Justice Okon Abang’s preservative order which placed embargo on the National Convention, and asking all parties to obey the order.
The fiery judge who had earlier outlawed the caretaker committee, and voided any action or actions they may have taken since May 21st when they came on board, stated inter alia,”All parties must respect the decision of the court. Parties are hereby restrained from proceeding with any convention in Port Harcourt or anywhere in direct violation of the applications before the court, in which Senator Makarfi and 5 others have been joined in the case. Therefore, in exercise of my disciplinary jurisdiction, I hereby suspend the PDP convention in Port Harcourt slated for 17th August, 2016”.
He noted that, the applicant in the Port Harcourt suit, and Secretary of the caretaker Committee, Ben Obi, must appear before him to show cause why he should not be sent to prison for contempt and abusing court Process, as he had filed a similar suit to the one in Port Harcourt, before abandoning it to seek redress before another judge of coordinate jurisdiction.
Justice Okon Abang warned on the consequences of any sort of disobedience to his orders, stressing that, no judge of coordinate powers is supposed to entertain any matter already pending before another, and that taking into cognizance the pending applications before him, and the attendant earlier orders from Lagos which had not been vacated, nothing should be done to tamper with his rulings.
Our correspondent further learnt that Justice Abang had received several threat letters from unknown persons following his insistence on due process and the rule of law, and had to be smuggled out of the High Court complex on several occasions when it became obvious that his life was under threat.
The judge who had not hidden his disdain for political rascality we learnt was asked to do justice in the matter of the PDP, so as to bail the system from the several embarrassments occasioned by earlier controversial orders emanating from Port Harcourt in particular.
Before Justice Abang’s order, most of the Governors and some BOT members have been sneaking into Sheriff’s Maitama residence to pledge loyalty and assure him that they were only playing on Nwike and Fayose’s intelligence, as they knew their quests to take over the PDP will not go anywhere.
Justice Okon Abang had earlier warned politicians on dragging the judiciary into its political fights by causing judges to give conflicting orders, saying, judges have a duty to interpret the laws, and not take sides in matters like politics.
By Naomi DOUGLAS, Abuja

News

STATEMENT ISSUED BY PROGRESSIVES ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE, UNITY AND DEMOCRACY (PAJUD)

Published

4 days ago

October 23, 2026

Our Reporter

THE FALLACIES OF MIKE IGINI

“It is mean and cowardly and an evidence of weakness and utter demerit, for any group of people to attempt to commend themselves to the public by the negative process of belittling and condemning others.”_

Chief Obafemi Awolowo, 28th April, 1951.

The attention of the Progressives Alliance for Justice, Unity and Democracy (PAJUD) has been drawn to the barrage of insults heaped by Mike Igini, former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), against every perceived and imaginary obstacle to his personal agenda.

We posit that since the return of democracy in 1999, the Nigerian political and electoral firmament has been overdosed with different genres of characters – the good, the bad and the ugly.

We state categorically and without fear of contradiction that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is NOT responsible for the non-appointment of Mike Igini as either Chairman of INEC or National Commissioner since he left office in disgrace and engulfed in controversies in the South-South.

Igini must understand that such appointments are not done willy-nilly. They are based on several criteria. He has served two full terms as Resident Electoral Commissioner. For him to be nominated as National Commissioner, a vacancy must exist for his state. This is apart from the principle of rotation of the position among states in the geo-political zone.

Those who know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu closely know he is a leader who does not deliberately shut the door against competence and capacity. Anyone holding him in contempt on this matter is either being mischievous or acting out the script of the opposition, just like the present issue at stake.

It is unfortunate that Igini has allowed himself to be taken advantage of, dancing to the rhythm of anti-Tinubu and anti-Amupitan rogue agents.

We find it compelling to state unequivocally that Igini is blatantly scheming to discredit the present government and the Amupitan-led leadership of INEC in anticipation of reward by opposition elements and spent forces, if they ever win in the post-2027 general elections.

Over the years, we have watched the transformation of Igini from lawyer, to public affairs commentator, to agitator, until the PDP government appointed him Resident Electoral Commissioner.

We are amused at Igini’s feeble attempts at returning to public reckoning, using barefaced criticism, outright lies, mischief and fallacies against the Renewed Hope and reformative agenda as a springboard to relevance and prominence.

For an egocentric, self-seeking bigot and Mr. Know-All like Igini, he wants to remain relevant as a bride for any juicy INEC Election Management Committee headship or membership, which we know will never happen in this dispensation as a result of his antecedents while in office – an era marred by allegations of partisanship, disloyalty and endless controversies.

Your tenure as REC in Cross River State was characterised by mudslinging between you and a political party over unethical conduct unbecoming of an electoral officer. Similarly, your flexing of muscles and one-sided narratives during your tenure as REC of Akwa Ibom State is still very fresh in our memory. Till date, you are still spewing negative narratives against one of the politicians you fought in that state to high heavens.

Nigerians from all strata continue to wonder where the monies for the live telecast of Igini’s exit as Resident Electoral Commissioner of Akwa Ibom State originated from. In the history of INEC – from Dr. Ephraim Akpata, Alhaji Shehu Musa, Dr. Abel Guobadia, the much-vilified Prof. Maurice Iwu, Prof. Attahiru Jega reputed to be Igini’s benefactor, to Prof. Mahmood Yakubu – none of them had the temerity for such lavish display and grandeur during their exit. What was witnessed in the last days of Igini as REC in Akwa Ibom evokes serious questions about collective decency, decorum, moral rectitude and values.

Any argument in support of such an extravagant exit lacks integrity, for the simple reason that the pay slip of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners and even National Commissioners is not a hidden document. It is known to the Nigerian public.

We believe that if we are sincere in this country, Igini should focus on more important non-partisan issues than chasing shadows. Igini should also address his own record, including the troubling episode of a Kenyan national engaged by INEC as a consultant some years ago, where the voter register fingerprints of Nigerians were allegedly compromised and handed to foreign interests. That despicable act is still fresh in our memory.

As overwhelming majority of Nigerians with voting rights are aware, there is an uncanny lust for power by desperate opposition politicians lurking on the horizon. They are deploying everything on earth just to grab power in 2027, and for no just cause but simply for selfish personal aggrandizement. They have recruited former staff, Directors, Resident Electoral Commissioners and National Commissioners to help execute their warped agenda and barefaced propaganda to deceive gullible Nigerians who will swallow every hook, line and sinker narrative framed by them.

We unreservedly agree with many who have suggested that as a believer in God, Igini should not allow his mind to be poisoned by the notion that any power outside the influence of God could have been responsible for the failure of his emergence as either National Commissioner or Chairman of the Commission.

Whatever it is, there seems to be more to it than meets the eye. The process of creating anarchy starts with incitement against the government, the electoral empire and security agencies. It often appears so smooth as to be imperceptible, hence those who engineer it enjoy the process at the initial stage, only to be consumed at the end of the day.

Elements in the class of Igini, who are acting out the script of falsehood purveyors and peddlers, will be put to shame at the end of the day. There is no doubt that Nigerians are going to have a well-deserved, credible, transparent, free and fair election in the 2027 general elections.

Above all, nobody can dispute the fact that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated people with impeccable ability, capacity, loyalty, patriotism and honesty as members of the election management structure that will drive our democracy forward, in a manner that both Nigerians and the international community will be proud of like never before in our annals.

The focus of the Tinubu administration remains its much stronger determination to protect and respect the sanctity and fidelity of the ballot during the forthcoming elections.

We implore Mike Igini to stop the rabble-rousing, negative framing, mischief, mudslinging and casting of aspersions against the electoral umpire and Mr. President, and find something reasonable to do to earn a living just like other Nigerians, instead of going from one radio station to television stations across the country. His antics are already known to Nigerians who are far more sophisticated and politically savvy than before.

A word is enough for the wise… “WHEN YOU CONDEMN PEOPLE, YOU BRING JUDGEMENT ON YOURSELF.”

Signed:Comrade Yakubu Dan Abba
Country Representative, PAJUD.

News

PAJUD Accuses Mike Igini of Political Grandstanding, Defends Tinubu, Amupitan

Published

4 days ago

October 23, 2026

Our Reporter

The Progressives Alliance for Justice, Unity and Democracy (PAJUD) has accused former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mike Igini, of attempting to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration and the leadership of the electoral body, describing his criticisms as politically motivated.

The group, in a statement signed by its Country Representative, Comrade Yakubu Dan Abba, alleged that Igini was seeking to regain public relevance through persistent criticism of the government and the leadership of INEC under its current chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan.

PAJUD, however, did not provide independent evidence to substantiate its allegations about Igini’s motives.

The group maintained that Tinubu was not responsible for Igini’s non-appointment as INEC chairman or national commissioner after completing his tenure as a Resident Electoral Commissioner, arguing that such appointments were subject to established criteria, vacancies and rotation arrangements among states within geopolitical zones.

“Those who know President Bola Ahmed Tinubu closely know he is a leader who does not deliberately shut the door against competence and capacity,” the statement said.

The group further alleged that Igini’s criticisms were intended to undermine the current administration and INEC’s leadership in anticipation of political rewards from opposition elements following the 2027 general elections.

PAJUD also questioned Igini’s record during his service as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, citing past disagreements with political actors and what it described as controversies surrounding his conduct in office.

It also raised questions about the cost and circumstances of the live television broadcast of Igini’s exit from office in Akwa Ibom State, comparing the event with the departures of previous INEC chairmen and other senior electoral officials.

The group did not provide documentary evidence to establish wrongdoing in connection with the broadcast.

In another allegation, PAJUD called on Igini to address what it described as concerns surrounding the engagement of a Kenyan national as an INEC consultant and the alleged compromise of Nigerian voters’ fingerprint data. The statement, however, did not present evidence establishing that Igini was personally responsible for any compromise of the data.

The alliance accused opposition politicians of attempting to discredit the electoral system ahead of the 2027 elections, alleging that some former electoral officials were being used to advance political interests. It did not identify the individuals allegedly involved or provide evidence supporting the claim.

PAJUD, meanwhile, expressed confidence in the ability of the current INEC leadership to conduct credible, transparent, free and fair elections in 2027.

It said the Tinubu administration remained committed to protecting the integrity of the ballot, adding that the president had nominated individuals it described as capable, patriotic and committed to the country’s democratic development.

The group urged Igini to refrain from what it characterised as inflammatory criticism of the president and the electoral commission, insisting that public discourse on electoral reform should be guided by responsibility and respect for democratic institutions.

Quoting former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the alliance recalled his statement of April 28, 1951, that it was “mean and cowardly” for any group to seek public approval by belittling and condemning others.

PAJUD concluded by urging Nigerians to remain confident in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections, while reiterating its support for the Tinubu administration and the current leadership of INEC.

News

FJF Backs NSCDC Probe into Niger Miners’ Deaths, Cautions Diaspora Group Against Protest

Published

4 days ago

October 23, 2026

Our Reporter

The Freelance Journalist Federation (FJF) has expressed confidence in the committee investigating the reported deaths of 37 miners in Niger State, urging the public to allow the panel to conclude its assignment without undue pressure.

The federation’s position followed threats by the Nigeria Diaspora Organizations and Community for Human Rights (NDOCHR) to stage a protest at the headquarters of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Abuja over alleged delays in releasing the investigation’s findings.

FJF in a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by FJF conveners Ibrahim Ali, Jonathan Modi, Okpara Isaac and Christopher Abah, described the investigative process as transparent and thorough, insisting that sufficient time should be allowed for the committee to complete its work and establish the facts surrounding the incident.

The federation criticised the proposed demonstration, describing it as unnecessary and politically motivated, while warning against actions that could heighten tensions over an issue involving the loss of human lives.

It also commended the leadership of the NSCDC, the Minister of Interior and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what it described as their commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

According to the FJF, local civil society organisations monitoring the proceedings have expressed satisfaction with the panel’s conduct. However, the federation maintained that the investigation should be allowed to run its course before conclusions are drawn.

The group also rejected calls by the diaspora organisation for the immediate removal and prosecution of the NSCDC Commandant-General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, describing the demands as premature and inconsistent with the principle of fair hearing.
It argued that calls for sanctions before the conclusion of the investigation could undermine due process and prejudice public perception of the committee’s work.

The NDOCHR had also threatened to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague over the matter. In response, the FJF maintained that Nigeria’s domestic legal and investigative institutions should be allowed to address the allegations through established procedures.

The federation urged Nigerians in the diaspora to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could inflame political tensions or interfere with the ongoing investigation.

It urged members of the public to remain calm and await the committee’s official findings, stressing that a thorough investigation was necessary to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and determine any responsibility arising from the incident.
The committee’s final findings and any subsequent official actions are expected to be central to resolving the concerns surrounding the incident.

The statement further called on the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to take appropriate steps to maintain public order in the Federal Capital Territory.