Charly Boy expressed sadness over the development, stating that the move would jeopardize the country’s democracy
By Kehinde Okeowo
Popular Nigerian singer, actor and activist, Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has said judges in the country have been told not to entertain lawsuits against the inauguration of Nigeria’s President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29.
His allegation comes after the Court of Appeal in Abuja slammed a fine of N40 million against an Abuja-based lawyer, Ambrose Owuru, over his lawsuit seeking to stop the May 29 inauguration.
In a judgment on Thursday, a three-member panel of the court was unanimous in holding that the appeal by Owuru and his party, the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) amounted to an abuse of the court process.
Justice Jamil Tukur, who gave the lead judgment held that the issues in the appeal had been determined by the court while sitting as an election petition court after the 2019 election, with a judgment given on August 22, 2019.
Tukur concluded that the appeal by the HDP presidential candidate was an invitation for the court to review its earlier decision, which it cannot do.
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Charly Boy after the judgment, took to social media on Friday morning to allege that there are plots to stop judges from attending to lawsuits related to the May 29 inauguration.
In a tweet shared on his official handle, the thespian expressed sadness, stating that the move would jeopardize the country’s democracy.
He wrote, “We have just been informed that there’s a nationwide order from above to all judges not to entertain any lawsuit against the inauguration of Bola Tinubu on 29th of May, 2023.
“This seems to be an end to democracy in Nigeria, a very sad moment”.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has fixed Friday, May 26, for judgement on a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the nomination of the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima.
