Politically-charged Rulings Place Judiciary Under Intense Public Scrutiny — Atiku

...hails execution stay on parties deregistration 

By RhemDy News

Presidential candidate of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday welcomed the ruling of the Appeal Court in Abuja which ordered the stay of execution on deregistration of his political party and four others.

Atiku remarked that disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in the courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny. 

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Monday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strike out the ADC, Accord, ZLP, APP and AA from its list for alleged failure to meet constitutional benchmark to remain as political parties.

However, dissatisfied with the ruling, the electoral body approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday to seek an order to stay execution of the judgment.

Ruling on the stay of execution appeal, the Appealate Court chided Justice Lifu, saying the judge exhibited judicial rascality by proceeding to hear and made the order despite the order of the Court of Appeal and the pendency of the matter before the court.

In welcoming the ruling of the appeal court, the former vice president said it was particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay.

"The disturbing spectacle of judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings playing out in our courts has placed the judiciary under intense public scrutiny. 

"As ADC National Chairman, Senator David Mark, rightly observed, the judiciary itself is now on trial.

"Any attempt to undermine Nigeria's hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice. 

"The judiciary still has an opportunity to redeem itself by standing firmly on the side of the Constitution, the rule of law, and the Nigerian people," Atiku said.