TRIBUNAL JUDGMENT: ADEYEYE'S COMMENTS : AN AFFRONT ON THE JUDICIARY
The attention of the JUSTICE PROTECTION GROUP (JPG) a group of Human Rights Advocates on Justice and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has been drawn to the reaction of the Nigerian Senate's spokesperson, Prince Dayo Adeyeye on his Press address on the judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal delivered on Tuesday, 10th September, 2019 which nullified his election into the Senate at the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 23rd February, 2019 by the Justice D.D. Adeck led 3-man Panel.
The Tribunal declared Senator Biodun Olujimi as the rightful winner, having polled the highest number of lawful votes cast during the National Assembly Election to represent Ekiti South Senatorial District.
In his comments on the said judgment, Prince Dayo Adeyeye had alleged that the judgment delivered by the Tribunal was "purchased" and contained alot of contradictions.
It is our view at the Justice Protection Group (JPG) that such comments were hasty, uncouth, reckless, very unprofessional and indeed, condemnable.
As at the time he addressed the press, he was yet to read and study, the judgment of several pages . And he was never present at the Tribunal even for one day. He therefore had no opportunity of availing himself of an update on the proceedings at the Tribunal throughout.
It was therefore petulant for a personality of Prince Adeyeye, a Lawyer and a supposedly advocate of justice to make such unguarded and mouth-running comments.
As a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, for him to cast aspersions publicly, on the integrity of the Bench, which the Honourable Tribunal Judges represent, is to say the least, reckless and irresponsible.
The axiom constantly reminds us that he who lives in a glass house does not throw stones. As Legal Practitions, Bench and the Bar, we all reside in the glass House and we are aversed to anyone throwing stones at us.
Prince Dayo Adeyeye has, by his utterances, thrown stones at the Nigerian Judiciary with reckless abandonment, all because of politics.
Adeyeye should know that the onus is on who alleges to prove. This he must do against the backdrop of his petition or he should be invited by the Security Agencies to substantiate his claims. We are also sure that the Nigerian Bar Association will not close his eyes to this gross misdemeanor of our member to the Bench.
Therefore, except, until and unless Prince Dayo Adeyeye is able to substantiate this unfounded, spurious and rebellious allegation of "Purchased" judgment against the nation's judiciary, it will be difficult to convince the younger generation about the absolutism of our law and the Justice system, to which our Group is irrevocably committed and supportive
We are yet to come to terms with his basis for the wild, and compulsive allegations designed to malign the Honourable Justices of the Tribunal, despite the legal window of Appeal.
Meanwhile, While we are not holding brief for the Tribunal Judges, we challenge Prince Dayo Adeyeye to justify allegations in light of the following extracts of the Judgement :
1. Were the Tribunal Judges responsible for the failure and lateness of INEC in filing responses to the petition?
2. Owing to various degrees of irregularities, the Petitioner pleaded for the ballot papers to be re-counted, Were the Tribunal Judges responsible for the outcome of the lawful re-count of the ballot papers, in the INEC office as agreed to, by ALL concerned and in the presence of Security Agents?
3. Was Adeyeye legal team not in agreement with PW15 when cross-examined on the re-counting of the ballot papers. And on the final admission of the exhibits, the results were computed to determine the winner. Do facts and figures lie?
4. Our Learned Colleague, Adeyeye should be grateful to the Tribunal Judges instead of vilifying them, for their indulgence, in accepting his final addresses which were filed late already by his Lawyers.
As far as we are concerned, in the Justice Protection Group (JPG), the Election Petition Tribunal which adjudicated on the case between Senator Biodun Olujimi and Prince Dayo Adeyeye was incorruptible, fearless, fair and thorough.
This panel of distinguished Justices deserves accolades as unbiased umpires, worthy Ambassadors of the Judiciary and bastion of Justice.
Signed;
Oluwaseun Amire Esq.
National President
Mohammed Usman Esq.
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