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The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has resolved to petition the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies over claims suggesting interference in the judicial process.
The resolution followed comments attributed to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), in which he reportedly claimed involvement in engagements with justices of the Supreme Court during the 2019 Kano State governorship election proceedings.
Kwankwaso was quoted as saying that during the 2019 election dispute, he took Abba Yusuf—now Kano State governor—to see justices of the Supreme Court after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive.
The Supreme Court subsequently ruled in favour of Abdullahi Ganduje, affirming his election and dismissing Yusuf’s petition.
Kwankwaso reportedly made the remarks while addressing supporters following Yusuf’s recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to the comments, the NBA said its NEC deliberated on the matter after the remarks attracted widespread public attention.
In a statement shared on X by Etaba Agbor, Secretary of the NBA Young Lawyers’ Forum, the association said such claims, whether made directly or by implication, were capable of undermining public confidence in the independence of the judiciary and Nigeria’s electoral justice system.
“The National Executive Council noted that claims of this nature, whether made directly or by implication, are capable of eroding public confidence in the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the electoral justice system,” the statement said.
The NBA said the scope of the proposed petition would not be limited to Kwankwaso alone but would extend to any individual who has made statements or public comments suggesting improper access to judicial officers or undue influence over judicial decision-making.
According to the association, the decision to petition security agencies does not amount to a presumption of guilt.
“The objective is to ensure that allegations of this gravity are subjected to thorough, impartial and professional investigation,” the NBA said.
It added that false claims of judicial interference are “dangerous and corrosive to constitutional democracy” and must be clearly repudiated, while stressing that where such claims are established to be true, accountability must follow in accordance with the law.
The NEC consequently mandated the National Executive Committee of the NBA to prepare and submit a formal petition to the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies, requesting a comprehensive investigation into all such claims.
The NBA reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the courts, noting that no individual is entitled to make claims that cast doubt on the judicial process without proper scrutiny.
