Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that the suspension of judges accused of corruption is only in favour of politicians.
Wike stated this when the executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt branch paid him a courtesy visit on Friday, November 4.
He said the u-turn by the National Judicial Council (NJC) will encourage politicians to write petitions against any judge whose judgement is likely to go against such politician.
The NJC had on Thursday, November 3, suspended the seven judges arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) on corruption allegations.
Wike said: “This move to ask judges to step aside is in favour of politicians because no judge will and deliver judgement against government or a ruling party.
“The implication is that politicians can now write as many petitions alleging that they saw a judge taking brown envelope – which will warrant the judge to be asked to step aside.
“For us, politicians, we are happy with this development because if I notice that I will lose a case, then I will tell my lawyer to write a petition which will result to the judge stepping aside.
“So, in other not to be alleged to have done anything wrong, judges will not give judgement against government or the ruling party.
“This is because, if a judge delivers judgement against government or the ruling party, then agencies of government will come after them.”
Wike said the development portend grave danger to the judiciary arm of government and to the common man.
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