The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced its resolve to petition the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to probe disclosures made by New Nigeria People’s Party leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, suggestive of trying to influence Supreme Court judges.
While addressing NNPP faithful in Kano, Kwankwaso had said 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 eventually ruled in favour of Abdullahi Ganduje, affirming his election and dismissing Yusuf’s petition.
The ex-minister made the remark to show the great length he went to ensure Yusuf who recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress became Kano governor.
The revelation which drew wide attention has prompted NBA Young Lawyers’ Forum to seek probe into the claim.
In a statement shared on X by the association’s Secretary, Etaba Agbor, it said Kwankwaso’s disclosure was 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.
Agbor remarked that NBA had concluded plan to petition relevant security agencies to investigate the Kano ex-governor’s claim, adding that 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.
“The objective is to ensure that allegations of this gravity are subjected to thorough, impartial and professional investigation,” the association’s secretary said.
