Supreme Court lambasts critics of recent judgements

…says channel your attacks on political parties

The Supreme Court on Saturday came hard on some Nigerians who had been “venting convoluted anger”, following its recent pronouncements, which affirmed a former Governor of the Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, senatorial candidates of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25 elections.

The Apex Court warned purveyors of such attacks on the judiciary and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, especially the United States-based Professor, Farooq Kperogi and Progressive Minds Forum, to desist and channel such energies to political parties which “fail to organise themselves well.”

The Director of Press And Information in Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande, issued the warning in a statement titled, “Be mindful of unwarranted attacks on judicial officers.”

According to him, as of the moment, over 600 cases have so far gone to court from just party primaries which were conducted by political parties without any encumbrance or interference from any external bodies.

The statement reads, “We have watched with utter dismay some unfortunate events that have been unfolding in the country, particularly within the political landscape, for some days now.

“It is so disheartening to learn that some individuals and groups of persons who ought to know better and even assume the revered positions of role models to a larger proportion of the citizens are now sadly, the very ones flagrantly displaying ignorance and infantilism in the course of defending the indefensible.

“In an ineptly scripted toxic article, one Farooq Adamu Kperogi, who described himself as a Nigerian-American Professor, decided to plunge into an abysmal pit of irredeemable ignorance by venting convoluted anger on Supreme Court Justices with a view to pleasing his paymasters.

“We have made it abundantly clear on different occasions that Judicial Officers are neither political office holders nor politicians that should be dressed in such robes.

“Our silence must not be mistaken for weakness or cowardice.

“Certainly, every Nigerian citizen has an inalienable right to express his or her opinion without any encumbrance; but even in the course of expressing such fundamental right, we should be circumspect enough to observe the caution gate of self-control in order not to infringe on another person’s right.

“Even in a state of emotional disequilibrium, we should be reasonable enough to make a good choice of decent words, as every word employed by the pen-happy Kperogi only succeeded in portraying the kind of vacuum that sign-posts all that he has as academic accomplishment.

“I believe those who possess similar credentials with him are obviously ashamed of celebrating any form of affinity with such a character that has an odious reputation for being a serial verbal assailant over the years, as he sees nothing good in anything good.

“He has only succeeded in inflicting upon himself a mood of bellicose jingoism which does not represent a mark of honour for any discerning mind or academic, the world over.

“Courts don’t advertise or scout for cases for adjudication; but at the same time, we are duty-bound to adjudicate on all matters that come before us with a view to giving justice to whoever justice is due, irrespective of status.

“No court in any clime is a Father Christmas; so, no one can get what he or she didn’t ask for.

“Similarly, all matters are thoroughly analysed and considered based on their merits and not the faces that appear in Court or sentiments that attempt to becloud the sense of reasoning.

“So, for anyone in his or her right frame of mind to insinuate that the Justices have been bought over by some unknown and unseen persons is, to say the least, a bizarre expression of ignorance, which definitely has no place in law or even in the realm of pedestrian reasoning.

“We are not surprised with the surge of these well-orchestrated verbal assaults on Judicial Officers across the country at this period of elections.

“It is a thing we are used to and are ever ready to absorb whatever comes our way, but there should be some level of decorum and dignity in what we say and do. Politics should not be played without recourse to good conscience and acceptable moral conduct, as everything is evolving globally.

“Calling on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to resign or attacking Justices that sit on various panels, as exhibited by a faceless group that calls itself ‘Progressive Minds Forum,’ is rather prosaic.

“If political parties fail to organise themselves well by managing their internal wrangling maturely and now chose to bring themselves to the court, we are duty-bound to adjudicate in accordance with the provisions of the law and not the dictates of any individual or deity, as some people would want us to do.

“If political parties conduct themselves well and orderly too, the courts would definitely handle fewer cases and the political atmosphere will be much healthier than it is currently.

“We shall continuously do our best to discharge our constitutional responsibility to keep the country together and move the nation along the path of peace, progress and development.

“Attacks by groups, political parties or individuals under any guise will not deter us, rather it will boost our resolve to do more for the country.

“It is not only petty but equally very unreasonable for anyone to hurriedly link CJN Ariwoola to his state of origin and tribe simply because of a particular judgment of the court.

“The major problem of Nigeria has always been the undue emphasis on religion and ethnicity in all our dealings. As long as we continue along that path, progress will remain a mirage.

“As of this moment, over 600 cases have so far gone to court from just party primaries which were conducted by political parties without any encumbrance or interference from any external bodies.

“So, will the political parties, Kperogi or any individual now accuse the court of causing such unpleasant intra-party wrangling that defied all internal conflict resolution mechanisms?

“Most times, some people try as much as possible to disingenuously stand logic on its head to show their level of unimaginable dexterity.

“Those who have cultivated the unfashionable penchant of always attacking the Judiciary over every judgment or ruling given should better have a rethink and start channelling such robust energy into some ventures that are more developmental than destructive.

“We are not politicians and should not, by any stroke of imagination, be cast in that mould either. Nobody’s interest can ever supersede the interest of everybody. Nigeria is bigger than every one of us. A word is enough for the wise.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/supreme-court-lambasts-critics-of-recent-judgements/%3famp

We are not politicians and should not, by any stroke of imagination, be cast in that mould either. Nobody’s interest can ever supersede the interest of everybody. Nigeria is bigger than every one of us. A word is enough for the wise.”

Kperogi getting the attention he's always sought. But they really came hard for him though. He'll soon write again

Tinubu is president of supreme court

Make everybody dey him dey

The sad part of this whole brouhaha is that many of these columnists and some journalists like Rufai Oseni prey on the emotions of their ignorant followers to twist the truth to suite their narrative.

Another tricky part is that many who are not lawyers and who don’t have access to the details of these judgements give opinions based on tales by moonlight.

Listen more, read more and talk less

If not Tinubu, it must be Obi. So, stop disturbing yourself. The presidency is coming to south. No to fulanization(RUGA).

North can't continue to destroy this country

When you bring ants invested woods home .. lizards becomes your guest.

Now supreme must understand that Nigeria understands that such injunctions” comes with inducement” and most time .. is cash not kind.

Nigeria judiciary is now to the highest bidder..

Very immature from the spokesman. Its unfortunate that ever since the current CJN assumed office this spokesman has been unnecessarily dabbling in the public domain dishing out press statement with big grammar just to impress himself and his boss. We have seen how other CJN and spokesmen have conducted themselves in the past. There was no reason to start responding to every Tom, dick and Harry. That's more mature, instead of attacking anything.

From the foregoing, its obvious that all this spokesman's bile, diatribes and threats are sanctioned by the CJN. Very unnecessary, in my opinion. The CJN is no doubt starting on the wrong footing, and he should just be careful.

Its sad that the guy is beginning to sound like the DSS spokesman, threatening everyone and communicating in a very immature manner.

We're tired of pal pal government...let your actions speak, not by blowing grammers

Oluwole supreme court justice...repent now

Ogas, when your judgments are fair people wouldn't bother much. But when they're blatantly outrageous even the masses will raise their eyebrows

You all should continue wailing, blaming and suing each other while we reasonably Nigeria will gallantly take back our country via the ordained man for the job; Peter Gregory Obi!


Urchins howfa... Hope you all are seeing what's going on at TBS ... The Iragbiji old thieving senile urinating machine's defeat will start from his polling unit in Bourdillon!

PS: You all stupid urchins should desist from attacking Obidients in Lagos. Goons

Wahala wahala wahala

When the 'esteemed' judiciary now begins to write to defend itself and explain it's point of view then you know that we are doomed.

This is a new low for the judiciary.

The common man is now on his own.

'To they tent oh Isreal'

A country full of drama

Thank you.
More updates

Pandev:
Kperogi getting the attention he's always sought. But they really came hard for him though. He'll soon write again

he writes well n objectively

This is what our once-hallowed Judiciary has been reduced to under this Lukuluku-looking clown…a completely desecrated statement-issuing political outfit shamelessly enmeshed in partisan politics.

Why won’t Nigerians attack you when a whole CJN was heard endorsing the rebellion of a renegade group of G-5 governors scheming to work for his Balablu kinsman?

…and tell us too AriwoOle: How much did Akpabio and Lawan pay you to steal senatorial tickets despite not taking part in their party primaries?

Crooks hiding behind technicalities to perpetrate evil.
Awon ole, onise ibi gbogbo!

Supreme Court has been bought

So nobody should question legality of supreme court government in Imo.issorite

SoBright101:
If not Tinubu, it must be Obi. So, stop disturbing yourself. The presidency is coming to south. No to fulanization(RUGA).

North can't continue to destroy this country

d south is not even united as it stands

saintkel:
he writes well n objectively

his paymaster is doing well

Wow God help us in this country

Uselessly corrupt Supreme Court.

Wow God help us in this country... just try to interpret the constitution with out fear or favor is it too much to ask?

See judges writing like secondary school students trying to try out newly learnt words. What a shame.

God bless Farook kperogi

There's nothing Honorable about what Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has turn our precious and most respected Supreme Court to...every Tom, Dick and Harry is now insulting and desecrating our Judiciary, just because of one man's ineptitude.

What breaks my heart the most is that Hon. Lawan's judgement was unanimous, that's to tell you how deep the rot and influence has gone.

In similar Supreme Court judgements the court often rules that such erring political party has no candidate in their constituency or state

Other CJNs have come and gone without so much baggage and controversies. Our Judiciary has to be preserved at all cost, one man shouldn't be allowed to destroy it all.

Under This government Supreme Court has reached rock bottom

Supreme Court rule on Statements of facts before it, and the arguments of counsels for both the applicant and the defendant...

Supreme Court Judges can't use sentiment or what they "think" should be the "right" thing so to say..

They only think law, fact on the table and argument

fergie001:


https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/supreme-court-lambasts-critics-of-recent-judgements/%3famp

This corrupt idiot ended up not being able to prove his accusers wrong.

How did the Supreme Court manage to award victory to people who didn't participate in their party's election

This is the vital question the idiot was supposed to answer!

Noted.