By Austin Ogwuda
Since the story broke about how the Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Ngozi Flora Azinge, in the open court revealed how a lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN offered to bribe her, there had been several reactions.
The latest development is that the Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has promised to personally head to Abuja to submit to the Presidency, a petition from angry protesters condemning the bribe scandal which the judge punctured.
Kano protesters had stormed the streets condemning the move to allegedly truncate justice by desperate politicians at the tribunal through bribery.
Also credible information reaching The Town Hall Media stated that the Nigerian Bar Association NBA has waded in.
They were reported to have written to the Kano Election Petition Tribunal secretariat seeking audience with Justice Azinge with a view to unveil the identity of the lawyer with the bribe toga for proper sanctions over such unethical practice.
Whilst the Tribunal has turned into cynosure of all eyes as judgment relating to the governorship elections in Kano State draws nearer by the day, there are background facts to know about this audacious Judge.
Had it been that proper background checks were carried out, the SAN ‘bribe giver’ couldn’t have approached her in the first place thinking she is one of those judges who can sell conscience for a pot of porridge.
Incidentally, Justice Azinge’s father, late Chief Osadebay lived a simple life devoid of ostentatiousness.
He worked as a Customs officer at his young age, became the President of the Nigerian Senate, Leader of the Opposition and became the Premier of the then Midwest region.
Yet, he never acquired illegal wealth.
I remember as a Reporter in the then Nigerian Observer, years back, I had the opportunity of interviewing him several times before his demise at his moderate residence on Strubb Street, Cable Point, Asaba, Delta State.
Another striking point to know about the judge is – her audacious stand.
The Town Hall reliably gathered that she had handled high profile cases in the past. This is certainly not the first.
Sometime in the year 2012, she was forced to abandon her court at Otor Udu in Udu local government area of Delta State following a threat letter she received from a kidnap gang.
She was prevented from sitting for two months at her court at Otor Udu by the faceless kidnappers who sent a letter demanding for N20 million as ransom.
And following police investigation, her Orderly, driver including three police officers who were deployed to guard her were all arrested while the fourth police guard was on the run.
Protesting youths in Kano State under the aegis of Kano State Civil Society Forum had stormed Government House despite police ban on public protests in Kano.
Kano State Commissioner of Police Husaini Gumel had told reporters that he received intelligence reports that both the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were mobilizing for street protests against the tribunal sitting.
Justice Azinge recently in the open court said a very senior lawyer “who has a pending case before me is attempting to bribe me.
“Money has been flying in this tribunal since yesterday. Whoever collects money on my behalf, God will punish that person and his generation yet unborn — to the fourth generation.
“They keep abusing judges, insulting us everyday in the papers, in the media — that we are taking bribe.
“Let me repeat again that nobody should approach me”, she warned sternly.