*Kano, Nigeria* –
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has issued a stern warning, declaring its intent to potentially bring a case before the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Benson Anya of the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The NNPP accuses Justice Anya of using “indecorous and libelous language” that has tarnished the image of its leaders and members.
The controversy stemmed from Justice Anya’s description of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s supporters in Kano State as “bandits and terrorists,” a statement that has drawn the NNPP’s ire. In a statement released by the party’s National Auditor, Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP expressed its strong objection to the judge’s inflammatory remarks and vowed to explore all available options, including petitioning the NJC and appealing the Tribunal’s verdict.
The NNPP particularly took exception to Justice Anya’s characterization of its members as “the gang of Red Cap wearers who, like a violent and terrorist cult, chased us out of Kano and put us in the fear of our lives.” Johnson, on behalf of the NNPP, criticized Justice Anya for making comments that went beyond the bounds of judicial decorum and for appearing to take sides in the matter, potentially prejudicing the court’s judgment.
Johnson stated, “The indecorous, libelous, and outright condemnable comments credited to the panel, especially those portions where Justice Benson Anya went beyond his judicial bounds of immunity and acted as if he is an interested party in the matter by casting aspersions on the leadership and members of NNPP, are spurious, regrettable, uncouth, and based on sentiments.”
The NNPP also raised concerns about the judge’s past and questioned his suitability for the panel, suggesting that he may have been previously petitioned against in Abia State. Johnson emphasized that the party would pursue all available avenues to address the alleged misconduct, and expressed confidence that justice would ultimately be served at the Appellate Court.
“It now seems apparently clear that justice was not served by the Election Petition Panel, which had all its sittings in Kano without any report of violence or disruptions, and then all of a sudden, decided to give their judgment via Zoom from some obscure place that remains a mystery to us!” Johnson remarked, hinting at further skepticism surrounding the circumstances of the Tribunal’s verdict.
The NNPP’s threat to involve the NJC reflects the party’s determination to address what it perceives as a grave injustice and maintain the public’s faith in the judiciary and democratic processes.
