Just as the Nigerians of different divide are about to recover from the shock of Supreme Court Judgment that sacked the former Governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha, Wole Olanipekun, senior advocate of Nigeria, says President Muhammadu Buhari, never used his office to influence the decision of the courts that sat over the 2019 presidential election petitions according to a report by News Agency.
This was made known through a statement by Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, Olanipekun spoke on Thursday at a dinner organised by Buhari for members of his legal team for the 2019 presidential election petition the report says.
Olanipekun, who was Buhari’s lead counsel, said the legal victory was won based on the facts of the law.
“The courts were allowed to do their jobs. Mr President, I must commend you for that sir,” he was quoted to have said.
“Nobody whispered to anyone of us, how we are going to see judge A or judge B? That’s the way it should be. Judges must be allowed and be given free hand to do their job.
“Mr President, we are happy to have been called upon and we are happy that we delivered.”
This came even as member of People’s Democratic Party has slated Monday 20th January to protest against the judgement. Already their are pictures of protesters with banners on the street with inscriptions that condemns the Court Judgment. This pictures are yet to be authenticated.
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The report also said that the Senior Lawyer said that the law needs some rejigging and cleansing even as the national assembly work on electoral reform. But it will be noted in 2018 the president declined assent to the amended electoral bill (2018). Futhermore he showed delight in the current national assembly saying:
‘‘We are happy to know that the national assembly is doing something about the electoral law, ” he said.
‘‘We are ready to cooperate with them without taking a dime, whether as consultants, whether as legal practitioners, whether as experts. If the Attorney-General of the Federation will co-opt us, we are ready to give assistance.”
Olanipekun also commended the president’s commitment to the rule of law, saying, ‘‘it is the surest legacy Mr President can bequeath to our dear nation.’’
– Nonso Ekwunife
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
