The Kano State government has raised the alarm over alleged plot to bribe the members of the National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in the State, pointing fingers in the direction of an influential member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) facing serious allegations of corruption.
A statement signed by the State’s Commissioner of Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, late Wednesday night, said the attention of the State government was drawn to an allegation made by the chairman of the Tribunal, Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the panel of Justices with money in order to sway justice in favour of a particular candidate.
He noted that the Kano State government viewed the allegation with a great concern as there was a strong rumour going round that some strong forces within the APC whose eyes are on Kano Election Petition Tribunals were bent on repeating what they allegedly did in 2019.
“They are all out to use whatever means to sway justice as was done previously.
“It is an open secret that these strong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard earned mandate of the people of Kano state,” Dantiye stated.
The Commissioner added that the influential APC member “certainly feels emboldened by what is generally perceived as his unfortunate and undemocratic selection as APC chairman who is rumoured to be all out to influence the outcome of various Election Petition Tribunals in Kano in particular and other states in general.
“The state government views this as a litmus test for present administration to show Nigerians its commitment to fighting corruption and defending democratic principles by ensuring that this case is thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted. The anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action, especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected Judge.
“However, the government views with delight the action of the Tribunal chairperson Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge as a positive testimony that there is still hope in the Nigerian judiciary and there are Judges and Justices with high sense of integrity abound in our
country.
“The state government also thank the good people of Kano that voted for the NNPP into power with well over one million votes at a time when it didn’t have federal, state, local government and financial resources.
“The government, therefore, notes and appreciates the readiness of Kano people to defend their mandate through whatever means possible,” Dantiye stated.