APC will get some Governors in South South and South East if they monitor Tribunal Judges ~ Odok

The gullibility of Nigerians is obvious in the face of money. Recent events have shown how even the Almighty INEC perceived to be independent and unbiased umpire have been compromised through financial inducement by PDP especially in South South and South East

The judiciary has not been left out in this bandwagon crave for corrupt money. The suspicion of judges led to the suspension of the current CJN alleged to have violated some provision of the Code of Conduct Bureau with regards to non declaration of assets. Also the investigation and ingoing prosecution of the current President of the Nigerian Bar Association on charges of money laundering cast a smear on the integrity of the judiciary as it's two heads are allegedly corrupt

To preserve the sanctity of the judiciary, APC led administration must place high level surveillance on the movement of physical cash and lodgement of money in the accounts of judges that are to preside on the various Elections Petitions Tribunal to safeguard our democracy.

In the case of DAUDU v. F.R.N. (2018) LPELR-43637 (SC), the Supreme Court held that 
when a person is found with money far beyond his legitimate income, the prosecution must still have to charge him to court, open its case, call witnesses, tender documents and establish a prima facie case before the accused person enters his defence. The burden of proof shift to the accused who has the duty to justify his source of income or  be deemed corrupt and convicted

With good surveillance on judges at different tribunals, APC has good opportunity to upturn many elections especially in South South South and South East believed to have been massively rigged by PDP in collaboration with INEC and Security personnel.

Elections in Abia,  Akwa Ibom, Cross River State, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta and Imo believed to be written and announced without the use of card reader can be upturned creating a possibility of APC increasing it's strongholds.

APC must also step out to ensure that Judges in various Elections Petitions Tribunal are limited to using Federal Government owned courts and facilities to avoid the temptation of creating contacts between Judges and agents of State Governors in various States. What happened in CRS with INEC seen in CRS Government vehicles and properties must be checked to curtail possibility of inducement by Governors. EFCC must be more proactive in such a manner as to stop all movement of cash and thereby keep the Judges focused in the dispensation of justice without undue influence or financial inducement

The time to act is now if APC intends to have a stronger party beyond 2023

Joseph Odok PhD Esq
Director Media and Strategic Communication COBOM