APC alleges plot by Wike to embarrass Appeal Court President, Judges
The Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress, (APC), has claimed that it has uncovered a plot by Governor Nyesom Wike to smear and intimidate the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa and other Appeal Court Justices.
The APC, in a statement signed by the party’s chairman Chief Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, alleged that members of the Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative, also known as Integrity Group were activated by Gov. Wike to draft and make a publication that will intimidate Justice Bulkachuwa and others over the pending Ojukaye Flag-Amachree matter in court.
It was learnt that the document had been prepared and presented to the governor in a meeting where the document was further fine tuned for publication at cost running to millions of Naira.
The statement reads: “The APC wishes to reveal that Gov. Nyesom Wike had earlier attempted to reach justices of the Court of Appeal in order to compromise the Ojukaye Flag-Amachree trial but when he was rebuffed he then resorted to the use of his standby political jobbery outfit, the Integrity Group for the exercise of blackmailing the judiciary.
“Another proof that Ojukaye Flag-Amachree is being victimised for political reasons stems from the widely published statement made by Hon. Austin Opara that Gov. Nyesom Wike was out to jail Hon. Flag-Amachree at all costs to serve as an example to other APC members in Rivers State.
“The APC can also confirm that at the time of sending out this press release, four leading national newspapers [names with-held]have rejected the publication due to ethical and professional considerations.
“A cursory look at the document which bears the format of an open letter to the Chairman, National Judicial Council [NJC] and Chief Justice of Nigeria, reveals very damaging and unfounded allegations against Hon. Justice Bulkachuwa with regard to the Ojukaye Flag-Amachree matter.
“The APC is worried that a sitting governor will descend so low to activate his cronies to defame, rubbish and blackmail respected members of the Nigerian bench at its highest level. This is indeed as despicable as it is primitive.
“The APC calls on the Chairman of the National Judicial Council [NJC] and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed to be wary of the antics of Gov. Nyesom Wike especially as he is ever determined to destroy the highly treasured reputation of members of the Bench whenever he fails in his attempts to compromise the judiciary”, statement added.
