*Says judgments of courts must be read before passing comments
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Legal luminary, Chief Yomi Alliyu, (SAN) on Saturday, kicked against the condemnation of Justices Tsoho (the CJ); Lifu and Omotoso of the Federal High Court on the Rivers State imbroglio.
Chief Alliyu (SAN) in a statement made available to journalists, said “Judgments of courts must be read before passing comments”.
According to the legal luminary, “It is unfair for APP who made press conference in Abuja along with the emergency NGOs to condemn Justices Tsoho (the CJ); Lifu and Omotoso of the Federal High Court for deciding cases on the basis of the evidence before them simply because the judgment was in conflict with that of Rivers State High Court!”
” The reputation of these FHC judges go before them as incorruptible, apolitical, impartial and very thorough in their decisions contrary to assertions and innuendoes of these politicians at the said press conference”, he said.
Chief Alliyu (SAN) added, ” It is on record that almost 99% of the previous decisions of these noble judges in complex cases were upheld by appellate courts. It is calling a dog a bad name to hang it to say that their decisions were against the Supreme Court Judgment on the autonomy of local governments in Nigeria”.
” This is nothing other than appeal to sympathy! The Supreme Court never held that elections to LGs should be held in violation of extant laws of the land.Rational people should understand why a State High Court decision will favour the State Government and be in conflict with that of the FHC.May be the problem is Wike being a Minister too!”.
Chief Alliyu (SAN) stressed further” The worst scenario is the NBA taking position that apparently condemned FHC judges who are incapacitated in defending themselves. They can only be seen and not heard!”
” The Police can, also, in no way be condemned as long as they have a judgment supporting their stand. However, they have an innate power to maintain law and order in Rivers State. The actors are to ensure that there is peace on Saturday to prevent police from using force in maintaining peace in Rivers State by use of REASONABLE FORCE!”