Nigerian judiciary, threat to democracy, says Senator

A former senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Senator Ishaku Abbo has declared that Nigerian democracy can not grow if the judiciary is not overhauled to deliver justice and not injustice.

Abbo who was sacked this year by the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja after earlier winning his case at the Tribunal to return to the Senate for a second term of legislative duties lamented over the alleged corruption going on in the judiciary.

Abbo, on Tuesday, in Yola during an interaction with journalists further alleged that the case of vote-buying was more pronounced in the courts than in practice in the real sense of it.

“My mandate was kidnapped in the courtroom by some judiciary bandits sitting on the throne of judgment.

“Judgment is from God, so if you are appointed as a judge, it means you are representing God on earth. So, if you collect money to deliver injustice, you will answer before your creator on the last day,” he said.

He alleged further, “ A top judicial officer came to my hotel room in Abuja with his wife demanding money on behalf of the judges handling my case. I have the camera records. I want to talk to his people in Taraba State to caution him so that his career may not be terminated prematurely because of bribe money.”

The senator who dwelled heavily on the height of corruption in the judiciary also pointed out that the political leadership in the north has collapsed due to the selfish interest of some of the leaders in the region.

“You cannot blame president Bola Tinubu, because majority of the northern leaders went to him and bargained for their personal gains and not on behalf of the north, so they have already harvested what belongs to the entire north,” he added.

On his political ambition to contest for the governorship of the state come 2027, he disclosed that he is still making consultations with stakeholders and that he will soon make a public declaration on his ambition after he concludes his consultations.

However, Abbo was not categorical on whether he will contest on the platform of his party, the All Progressives Congress or not, even as he accused  his party of not showing him love during his political predicament in hands of the judiciary.

“Like what former president Obasanjo said, I just dey watch if the crisis in APC Adamawa State is guinuely resolved. If yes, good and fine. If not, then the party is gone in Adamawa State,” he pointed out.