CSOs allege plans by IPOB, Yoruba Nation agitators to compromise judicial officers

*Say $5 million in place for judges, lawyers;

*Ask CJN to monitor state chief judges;

*Want Abia judge to recuse himself from IPoB leader’s case

As the fundamental rights cases filed by Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and that of Yoruba Separatist agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo Igboho gather momentum in courts, civil rights groups have raised the alarm that some judges in the country might have been compromised to work against the interest of Nigeria and favour the secessionists, thereby throwing the country into turmoil.

The coalition of civil societies under the aegis of Conference of Harmonised Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (COHCSON), raised the alarm at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.

At the conference, the Chairman of the group, Mr. Oduma Richard Oduma, pointed accusing fingers at the rate at which judicial officials were being railroaded into granting frivolous orders to elements spearheading the disintegration of Nigeria not minding the negative and destructive impact on the country with over 200 million people.

The group alleged that already some elements in the Southwest and Southeast were already mobilising funds to the tune of $5 million for the purpose of infiltrating the courts in order to secure favourable orders for the separatists.

The group said that it had also received credible information that some groups were mobilising funds and support from different parts of the country with the sole aim of intimidating and blackmailing judges with a view to obtaining favourable judgements similar to what a judge in Oyo State High Court recently granted in favour of Sunday Igboho.

Oduma said: “Following an emergency expanded meeting of the COHCSON, this press conference was called to condemn what is turning out to be an execution of a detailed plan to subvert and undermine the country’s judicial system. When we first heard that the dissident and secessionist IPOB and Yoruba Nation groups were planning to infiltrate the courts at all levels we dismissed the allegations. But latest developments have indeed forced us to raise this alert.

“It has come to our notice that the groups are resorting to blackmail and intimidation to hoodwink the judges into granting them unmerited judicial favours. Recently a State High in Oyo State presided by Justice Ladiran delivered a judgment in favour of Sunday Igboho and awarded him 20billion naira as claims. As part of the evil plots, IPOB has instituted a N5 billion case at the Abia State High Court Umuahia where a judge would, out of fear of harassment and violence, grant them the plea. It has become obvious that IPOB intends to use its violence stricken sit-at-home enforcement style to force the judges do their bidding.

“On the case of Igboho, we are aware that having failed to secure his release from Benin Republic authorities, the leaders resolved to raise funds to patronise friendly judges in Nigeria who are sympathetic to their cause. A serving governor in the south West appears to be part of the plot. The leaders in that meeting also agreed to sponsor more rallies abroad to give Nigeria a bad image internationally. Aside raising funds from Diaspora groups and individuals who share in the evil dream of dividing the country, the group agreed to shop for a friendly judge to award them claims against the government thus the  N20 billion.

“We are aware too that the representative of IPOB was mandated in their last meeting in Benin Republic to also institute a fresh suit against the federal government agents. This fresh suit by IPOB though an afterthought which confirms our position. These judges at the state level are said to be emotional attached to their ethnic groups and the separatists.