Supporters of the Abdulrahaman Mohammed-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJ...
Supporters of the Abdulrahaman Mohammed-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), calling for the sanction of Justice A.L. Akintola of the Ibadan High Court over an ex parte order permitting the conduct of the PDP National Convention this weekend.
Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Austine Nwachukwu, Chairman of the PDP Imo State Chapter, said the ex parte order violated established judicial processes. Nwachukwu, along with two other stakeholders, Amah Abraham Nnanna and Turnah Alabh George, had previously obtained a judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja restraining the convention.
“The petition, dated November 5, 2025, and received by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, 2025, raises serious concerns over acts of judicial recklessness, impunity, and violation of established legal processes by Justice Akintola,” Nwachukwu said.
The petitioners argued that the judge’s November 4 ex parte order, which allowed the PDP convention in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025, contradicts the valid judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025) delivered on October 31, 2025. They contend that the action amounts to sitting on appeal over a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction, undermining judicial hierarchy and the rule of law.
Nwachukwu warned that the development could erode public confidence in the judiciary and urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate and take decisive action, as it had done in previous cases of judicial misconduct in Rivers, Imo, and other states.
“The NJC must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay. The judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man, not a tool for political expediency. Prompt and transparent action on this petition will restore faith in the judiciary and reinforce the principle that no one, however highly placed, is above the law,” he said.
No comments