By Dapo Akinrefon Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, on Friday, urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to protect the independence, integrity and credibility of the Nigerian judiciary, expressing worry over a recent court judgment arising from the party’s leadership dispute.George, in an open letter addressed to the Chairman of the NJC, said he was compelled to speak as a concerned citizen, democrat and PDP BoT member over developments he said had raised serious questions about public confidence in the administration of justice and the role of the courts in protecting constitutional democracy.He explained that the suit before the court was instituted by the Chairman and members of the PDP Board of Trustees to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to comply with existing judgments of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal High Court by updating its official records to reflect what he described as the authentic leadership of the party under Mr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN).According to him, rather than determining the constitutional issues raised in the suit, including whether INEC was legally bound to implement the subsisting judgments, the court dismissed the action as a waste of judicial time.He further stated that the court awarded costs of N140 million against the PDP Board of Trustees and an additional N10 million against its counsel.The PDP leader described the development as troubling, noting that the issues involved extended beyond the internal affairs of the PDP and touched on the broader principles of constitutional governance and the rule of law.He also tackled the Nyesom Wike-led faction’s reported expulsion of senior members of the party, describing the development as illogical and inconsistent with the party’s structure.He argued that the judiciary occupies a unique position as the guardian of the Constitution and the rule of law, warning that any perception of political influence or constitutional inconsistency in judicial decisions could erode public trust in the courts.George reminded the NJC of its constitutional responsibility to preserve judicial independence, discipline and ethical standards, saying the council must act whenever judicial decisions generate widespread public concern.The letter, titled ‘The Imperative of preserving the sanctity, independence and integrity of the Nigerian judiciary’, reads: “I write as a concerned citizen, a democrat, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), compelled by recent developments that raise serious questions about public confidence in the administration of justice and the role of the courts in safeguarding constitutional democracy.“The matter before the Court was far from frivolous. It arose from an action instituted by the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party. The action sought to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with and give effect to subsisting judgments of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court by updating its official portal to reflect the authentic faction of the Peoples Democratic Party as led by Mr Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, recognised by the judgments, rather than continuing to recognise the Wike-led faction.“Instead of first determining the substantive constitutional questions before it including whether INEC was under a legal obligation to comply with those subsisting judgments and amend its official records accordingly, the Court dismissed the action as a waste of judicial time and proceeded to award costs of N140 million against the Board of Trustees and a further N10 million against counsel.“It is the greatest joke in the civilised international community today. Morally and ethically, is it possible for a child to expel a father from his house whilst the father is still alive.“The Wike faction said they have expelled permanent members of the upper echelon of the party, the custodians of the party. What a joke.“Despite this absurdity, the judge concluded in his judgement that we were wasting the time of the court.“Our constitutional order is founded upon the hierarchy of courts and the binding authority of judicial precedent. Judgments of the Supreme Court are final and binding upon all persons and authorities throughout the Federation. Equally, decisions of the Court of Appeal and other superior courts of record are not matters of discretion to be observed or ignored at will. The rule of law demands faithful obedience to subsisting judgments until they are set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction. No administrative authority, however constituted, possesses the legal authority to disregard or delay compliance with a subsisting judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction unless and until that judgment is set aside by a superior court.“The issues raised by this judgment extend far beyond the interna
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