The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has cautioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to go beyond bounds in its political utterances by making allegations against the judiciary.

The CJN’s warning followed an alarm raised by the opposition party over what it termed the undue interferences by the Court of Appeal in the various cases before election petition tribunals and other judicial cases in the country.

“Somebody has to counsel Metuh to avoid treading where he has limited knowledge, because Judiciary is not where one makes allegations without proofs,” he said.

A statement issued yesterday by the party’s national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, had alleged that the appellate court had been meddling in court cases with a view to swaying them in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP called on the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed to guide jealously the independence of the judiciary.

Metuh had said the party wished to alert the president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa of reports of undue interferences, emanating from her office, in the activities of various election petition tribunals and other judicial cases, ostensibly to sway them against the PDP and in favor of the APC.

He had said: “While we would not want to believe that the President of the Court of Appeal is so involved, given the sensitivity of her office, we wish to caution, in very strong terms, that such is completely unacceptable as it principally detracts from the sanctity of the judiciary as the citadel of justice and erode the trust reposed on it by the people,” he added.

Urging the appellate court to understand that an impartial judiciary was critical to the survival of the country’s democracy, PDP asked the CJN to guard jealously the independence of the judiciary which he heads, and ensure that any activity that tends to undermine the sanctity of this arm of government is stiffly resisted in the interest of democracy.

Apparently miffed by PDP’s weighty allegations, the CJN through his media aide, Ahuraka Isah, said the PDP and its spokesperson needed to be counseled that they must not tread where they have little or no knowledge about.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Ahuraka said the CJN would not have “ordinarily wished to join issues with people exercising their rights to freedom of speech, except the sensitive and sacred nature of the Judiciary in the society.”

He asserted that the integrity of the judiciary at the moment was non-negotiable, and noted that many members of the APC and the PDP had won and lost at the tribunals all over the country.

He wondered whether this should be interpreted to mean that “the president of the Court of Appeal has influenced the tribunal to also give judgements in favour of the PDP members that have won their cases.

“We all agree that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides for freedom of expression, but it cannot be exercised in isolation recklessly like loose cannon”.

In the statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, Ahuraka further stated: “I make bold to state that the integrity of the Judiciary this time around is non-negotiable.

“Independent judiciary intrinsically means judges can make decisions irrespective of the political winds that are blowing. And we are indeed doing same at the election petition tribunal”.

source: www.leadership.ng/news/468348/interference-allegation-dont-cross-your-bounds-cjn-cautions-pdp

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Metuh caution ur mouth ooooooooooo

. This Metuh will soon land himself into trouble.. He should no what to say, the cjn is not Adesina to be upbraided any time. Metuh has no portion of section 308 to help him out. He can be charged for court contempt if he is not able to bring evidence....... Your opposition stops in legislative and executive arm.

Metuh been an ordinary spokesman 2 a party called PDP u shld be very careful, else like play ur new address will be Kuje prison. Be warned!

all I see is fear and lack of Concrete job to do

The CJN should just charge him for contempt of court. No amount of warning will change Metuh, he can only learn the hard way.

Come do crash course, u no free. U see ur life?

Someone should pls sound this out to the "Broken Record Metuh", I no wan hear witch hunt when hammer fall o

Olisa Metuh will continue to make a fool of himself with his shallow press conferences & unnecessary & unwarranted outbursts. A word is enough for the wise.

Lai has finally been vindicated.Its very glaring Metuh needs that crash course Lai was offering.

Come to think of it,I really don't blame Metuh that much as he is still learning the ropes of been in the opposition

And just as Lai told the upper chamber last week"Four years is too a short time to be in the opposition".

Olisa Metuh you have been warned.

Yibooo people no go caution their son now ooo! Hmmmm

reuben79:
Metuh caution ur mouth ooooooooooo

I swear d guy go lay low for sometimes now Oooh I trust my Lai in APC, bros forget the guy go still dey boil.............

The Judiciary has been operating under the shadow of PMB and public opinion, the judiciary has left a lot of distaste in our mouth with the way tribunal petitions are handled in PDP controlled states.
I recall how Itse Sagay made some pronoucements that sounded like a *Get in Line* to the judiciary and how corruption cases will be handled. I fear for an impartial judiciary now with the public taste for blood for *corrupt* officials.

Let there be fair hearing for everyone

Silly CJN. Charge him and sentence him appropriately for Contempt. Four months only. No look anyone eye.

What You need to know about APC

http://www./2015/10/apc-not-ready-to-rule-nigeria-adebanjo.html?m=1

Olisa Metuh is what he is- an impish Wailing Blabbermouth, what NOI called a "Naterring Naboob of Negativism" back when she was drunk on power.

Guess Lai's magnanimous pro bono offer of a crash course for Metuh still remains open- pride wouldn't just allow him avail himself of the opportunity.

The Pdp through its spokesman Mr Metuh has made a statement of undue interference at the ongoing tribunals, it will be out of place for the CJN to call him to order, All the CJN ought to do is draw the attention of Mr Metuh to furnish his office with information regarding these interferences not the subtle threat,; as if there are three sets of laws governing the nation, one for Pdp, another for Apc and yet another for Nigerians. Part of the problem facIng our dear country Nigeria, is that we don't have strong INCLUSIVE INSTITUTIONS and this lack of Inclusive Institution is replicated in all sector of the Nigerian Society. The CJN should listen to WHAT the Pdp is saying; AUDI ALTEREM PARTEM.

Irrespective of our grievances we should be careful not to drag the judiciary into politics. But I am disappointed in the CJN not because he reprimanded Metuh but because he FAILED to reprimand Shehu Garba who during the electioneering period alleged that the FG has paid the judge handling the perjury case against Buhari to disqualify him from contesting the March 28 election. Is the CJN just waking up from his slumber? As for Metuh, I hope he watches his utterances when it comes to making allegation against the judicial arm of government. Though I agree that the unnecessary interference of DSS is capable of influencing judicial/tribunal pronouncements.

D

I think Lai Mohammed's offer is still open.

opp

Hmm metuh this is judiciary,not a political party.You had better behave yourself.

"The judiciary this time around is non-negotiable".....oh really?

See warning

PDP aren't good in opposition since they've dominated for so long a time. They are really having a bad time. I never knew they could talk this much.

lol

everyone knows they are SOUR GRAPE

They need to be cautioned seriously