Atiku alerts Tinubu’s men gatecrashing events to meet Judges
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Bola Tinubu has directed his men to monitor Judges on the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) where Atiku and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) are seeking the nullification of the election of the President because he allegedly rigged the ballot.
The presidential candidate of the PDP alleged among those monitoring the Judges for Tinubu are Oyo Governor Seyi Makinde and former Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike.
Atiku raised the alarm through his Media Aide Phrank Shaibu who said it is curious that Makinde and Wike attend a memorial service in Plateau hosted by Appeal Court President Monica Dongban-Mensem even though they were reportedly not invited.
It ordinarily was supposed to be a solemn service but “our busybody interlopers polluted the event with their shameful appearance,” Shaibu said.
“Wike had been using dubious means to cosy up to Judges and giving them gifts under the guise of welfare.”
Shaibu argued Wike’s latest visit to an event hosted by the Appeal Court President could be another ruse to influence the appellate court where PEPC Judges were drawn from.
He recounted how Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola declared a few months ago he was happy Makinde was a member of the defunct PDP G5 Governors.
Shaibu said: “Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, as the host governor, was invited for the programme but Wike and Makinde were gatecrashers at that event. The reason is not far-fetched. They have continued to cosy up to judges just to impress their paymaster.
“Unfortunately, the CJN, Justice Ariwoola, has also failed to live above suspicion. He was in Rivers State ahead of the election, where he said he was happy that Governor Makinde was a member of G5.
“Then, at the commissioning of the Oyo Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on May 25, the CJN once again was the special guest of Governor Makinde.
“Today, there are rumours that the next Attorney-General will be a kinsman of the CJN as part of efforts to manipulate the outcome of the election petition tribunal.
“While this has not been proven, the fact remains that the CJN has put himself in a position where his integrity is constantly questioned.”
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Bulkachuwa’s confession of influencing Judges
“Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa’s confession that he convinced his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa – former Appeal Court President – to grant some favours to his colleagues in the Senate has vindicated Atiku,” Shaibu added, per Vanguard.
“In 2019, we asked the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to recuse herself because of conflict of interest since her husband was an APC senator. This same APC said we were crying wolf where there was none.
“Four years later, we were vindicated after Bulkachuwa himself on the floor of the Senate admitted that his wife granted favours to some of his colleagues. Our suspicions are never wrong.
“Wike continually feels too familiar with judges because his wife is one. He gives judges gifts in the name of welfare. This is ironic, given the fact that this is a man who does not believe in the rule of law.’’
Makinde dismisses allegation
Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary Sulaimon Olanrewaju described the allegation as “a figment of the writer’s imagination,’’ but Wike’s Media Aide Kelvin Ebiri declined comment, according to Vanguard.
Olanrewaju said Makinde was in Jos to represent the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) at the memorial service hosted by the President of the Appeal Court for her son, and not to monitor any Judge.
“He was not the only Governor at that event, Governors of Benue and Ogun states were also in attendance. Why the writer imagines that Makinde attended the event to monitor judges beat one’s imagination,” he insisted.
“It is so sad that everything is now politicised, even memorial services for the dead. One wonders what has become of the tradition of respecting the dead and even the feelings of the bereaved.”