Piqued by the way and manner the Edo state Election Tribunal dismissed a petition filed by a candidate of the Labour party representing Orhionmwon/ Uhumwode Federal Constituency, Murphy Imasuen in the February 25, 2023 general elections, a group of retired and serving judges, magistrates and apex media doyens, have petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The judges, magistrates and others under the aegis of God & Country Ombudsmen for Nation Building (GOCONB), have decided to wage into the development to boost the image of judiciary.

The petition addressed separately to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, His Lordship Ariwoola Kayode, the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the President of the Court of Appeal, Her Lordship Monica Dongban-Mensah, was titled, “Preserving the Honour & Integrity of Nigeria’s Judiciary from Unpatriotic Conduct of Three Tribunal Judges.”

Details of the GOCONB petitions dated November 14, 2023 and obtained from Abuja judicial sources, indicate that the new judicial advocacy body also comprises zenith professionals of the media, environmentalists and international solicitors, some of who hold briefs with the ECOWAS, the African Union and European Commission, among global development institutions and partners.

Recall that on Saturday October 28, 2023, the election petition tribunal sitting in Benin and headed by Justice Yusuf Mohammed with Justice M.O. Agboola and Justice (Mrs) K.A. Keweanya as members, dismissed the petition of the Labour Party’s candidate, Mr. Murphy Imasuen.

Imasuen had challenged the declaration of his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent, Mr. Osawaru Billy Famous, as the winner of Orhionmwon/Uhunwode federal constituency in the February 25 National Assembly election to the House of Representatives.

Also recall that the Labour party under the national leadership of Julius Abure’s faction and state exco leadership of Mr. Kelly Ogbaloi had two candidates, Mr. Imasuen Murphy and Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, both of who claimed entitlement to the LP ticket for the same Orhionmwon/Uhuonde federal constituency.

But Court documents obtained showed that the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/B/CS/129/2022 delivered a pre-election judgment on February 20, 2023, while the Appeal Court in Suit No. CA/B/35/23 delivered the Federal High Court’s appealed judgment on April 20, 2023, both of which declared Imasuen Murphy as the lawful House of Rep Candidate for Orhionmwon/Uhunwode federal constituency of Edo state.

But delivering judgment on October 28 on Mr. Imasuen’s petition, identified to our reporter as Petition No. EPT/ED/HR/12/2023.

However, the three-man National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly election petition panel headed by Justice Yusuf Mohammed, unanimously ruled that in spite of the pre-election judgment of the Federal High Court and the sequel Appeal Court judgment which declared Imasuen Murphy as the rightful candidate of the LP, the panel did not recognize Imasuen as the candidate of the Labour Party but Elizabeth Ativie whose candidacy had been terminally squashed by the Appeal Court.

The tribunal concluded that Imasuen Murphy had no locus standi whatsoever to pursue any election matter related to the Orhionmwon/Uhunwode federal constituency seat.

Part of the GOCONB petition to the CJN, NJC and President of the Court of Appeal reads, “Compelled by the highest sense of affinity to your august offices as foremost officers of our country’s judicial realm, our humble objective in filing this petition before Your Lordships is to express how shocked we are that judges of an Election Petition panel would over-reach themselves to dismiss a pre-election judgement decided by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which had affirmed the candidate of a political party, and to entreat Your Lordships’ severest scrutiny of and appropriate disciplinary actions against such judges.

“The dismissal of the Imasuen Murphy petition by the Justice Yusuf Mohammed tribunal on the ground that Mr. Imasuen was not the candidate of the Labour party and therefore that he had no locus standi to come to the tribunal is unfounded, distressful, egregiously contemptuous of superior courts and not supported by law or facts.

“Reasonable minds cannot help but think of Justice Yusuf Mohammed’s tribunal as one on a cause of personal interest advancement and not a justice mission to Edo state.

“Your Lordship… with the gravest concern, it is our excruciating observation that the judgment makes the Nigeria judiciary a laughing-stock and brings ridicule and contempt to our hallowed justice entity nationwide.”

The GOCONB, has, however, prayed the CJN, NJC and the President of Appeal Court to look into the petition.

“We entreat Your Lordships to diligently look into this petition, as well as all similar matters of justice miscarriage arising from the 2023 general elections and tribunal adjudications across the country, and bring justice to bear on their inherent merits.

“There are consequences on the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary from unclothed travesties like the one discussed in this petition.

“We are concerned, Your Lordships, that if this type of extreme travesties in our justice system are not sanctioned timely and appropriately, they will hasten total erosion of the confidence of the common man in Nigeria, the international community and foreign investment interests hitherto considering to do business in Nigeria.

“On the other hand, if Your Lordships’ timely intervention culminates in a redeeming and healing positive outcome, the reversal of justice miscarriage, victory for Imasuen Murphy and others like him across the country, their denied and violated electoral constituencies and Nigeria in general will revert to celebrate the judiciary and nurse its image back to good health to serve the nation.

“We think that this is important after the tremendous crises of confidence that currently pervades our country in the wake of the 2023 general elections.

“We pray accordingly for your positive actions in above regards.”

The GOCONB petition was signed by the association’s Director of Public Complaints, Oboyi Peters Esq., its Complaints Verifications And Certification Officer, Esmerald Bazunu-Bright Esq. and Prince Tony Akeni, Executive Director Africa, an ace civil rights journalist who is also head of the media society of the association. (Sunday Independent)

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