The Kano State Government has expressed concern over a bribery alert raised by the Chairman of the Kano State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge.
The judge had said that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway justice in favour of a lawyerâs client.
She lamented in open court before the commencement of session on Tuesday in Kano, how senior lawyers particularly engaged in unethical practice.
A statement by the Commissioner of Information, Malam Baba Halilu Dantiye, said: âThe attention of the Kano State Government has been drawn to an allegation made by the chairman of Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in order to sway Justice as according to her, âmoney has been flying in the Tribunalâ.
Dantiye said the state government viewed the incident with great concern as there is a strong rumour that some âstrong forces who are well-known for their corrupt attitude are working tirelessly to scuttle the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano Stateâ.
He said the State Government viewed the incident as a litmus test for the present administration to show Nigerians its commitment to fighting corruption and defending democratic principles by ensuring that the case was thoroughly investigated and the culprits prosecuted.
âThe anti-corruption agencies are equally expected to swing into action, especially when this type of allegation was made in open court by a respected Judge,â he said.
The commissioner said the government, however, viewed with delight the action of Justice Azinge as a positive testimony that âthere is still hope in the Nigerian judiciary, and that Judges and Justices with high sense of integrity abound in our country.
âThe state government also thanked the good people of Kano that voted the NNPP into power with well over one million votes at a time when they didnât have federal, state, local government and financial resources. The government, therefore, notes and appreciates the readiness of Kano people to defend their mandate through whatever means possible,â Dantiye added.
(NAN)
