Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has slammed some Nigerian governors who praised President Bola Tinubu for not interfering in recent Supreme Court judgments that affirmed their gubernatorial elections.
On Friday, the Supreme Court issued separate rulings on petitions challenging the victories of the governors of eight states in the country.
The states are Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Plateau, Abia, Cross River and Bauchi.
The cases, which began in the election petition courts of the various states, reached the Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court, in separate judgments, upheld the elections of the eight governors, including those of Kano and Plateau States, who had been removed by the lower courts.
After the court rulings, some of the governors praised Tinubu for not interfering in their legal battles.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, for example, said in a speech on Saturday to mark his high court victory, that Tinubu deserves praise for “remaining steadfast in the resolve that the judiciary must be independent”, apparently suggesting non-interference. of the president.
“If I hadn’t done that, maybe some of the verdicts we’re getting today would have been different.
“I believe that his non-intervention in the judiciary has produced positive results for the country today,” Otti had said.
Like Otti, Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, reacting to the Supreme Court ruling that confirmed his election last Thursday, said the ruling was in his favor because President Tinubu did not interfere in it, implying that the president could influence the decision. of the court if he so wishes.
The governor spoke Sunday at a church Christian Ministry All Nations International in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.
“I will continue to support President Tinubu. Do you know why?” Mr. Eno asked the parishioners.
“No,” they chanted.
“Because he (Tinubu) does not interfere in the judicial process,” the governor said.
Human rights lawyer speaks
Reacting to a post on its X handle On Tuesday, Effiong said governors, in praising the president, “invariably said they have no confidence” that the Supreme Court will rule without interference.
“They are telling us that they do not trust the independence and impartiality of the judiciary,” he said.
The lawyer said it was ridiculous that Mr Tinubu was praised by the governors for the sentences rather than the judges who handed them down.
“Are high court judges accountable to the president?” -Mr. Effiong asked.
The lawyer said: “The condescending comments of the victorious governors are disgusting and disturbing.”
He argued that the governors’ actions were not the correct way to strengthen confidence in the country’s institutions.
“They (the governors) are scandalizing the judges with their unnecessary praise of Tinubu,” he said.