I am initially reticent to talk about the famous political war between Adamawa state governor, Senator Muhammad Umar Jibrilla Bindow and his predessesor, Admiral Murtala Nyako, especially when there is an ongoing court case between the two.
But as a law abiding citizen of this country, an unalloyed indigene of Adamawa state and a practising lawyer, it will be a big disservice to my state, if I keep quite after reading such a poisonous and fallacious statement.
I came upon this statement circulated by some politicians under the auspices of #IstandwithNyako accusing Governor Bindow of sponsoring a billion naira protest and media propaganda ahead of the December 16th Supreme Court judgement.
The statement further accused the governor of spending big money to launder his image and garner political sympathy from the people of the state.
And here comes the worst part of the statement; it accused the governor of giving some elements in the judiciary billions of naira for a favourable judgement. This is by far the most ridiculous and unfair statement I have seen about the judiciary all my adult life.
I will like to state here that, I am not a politician and I have never been a supporter of either Governor Bindow nor Admiral Nyako, but for God sake let’s call spade a spade. I am going to do just that – call spade what it is.
It is understandable that the Nyako camp are jittery considering their poor showing in the court and the fact that Governor Bindow is doing so well in the state and everybody in Nigeria, not just Adamawa can attest to that.
Therefore, with fear of failure comes desperation and doltishness, which the #IstandwithNyako team has shown in abundance with this false statement. I had expected a more honourable fight from Nyako, but with each passing day, it is becoming apparent that honour is a virtue Admiral Nyako and his team lack.
It is even insulting for #IstandwithNyako to tell us that Governor Bindow had budgeted one billion naira for a protest and media propaganda and then expect us to believe that – one billion naira! Well, I don’t blame them for such lies. They are just a group of dirty poor politicians, they don’t really know what a billion naira is worth especially in an economy like this.
The ignorance in the statement was again clearly highlighted in an attack on the governor’s recent visit to Mayo Belwa, the hometown of Admiral Nyako. When the governor was seen inspecting ongoing works and abandoned projects, the statement stupidly claimed Bindow was there for a political rally. That’s absurd.
All these nonsense can be excused as the height of dirty politicking which Nyako and his team has mastered so well, but accusing the judiciary of corruption and making wild allegations of bribery is blatant disrespect and contempt to the court of law.
I say it without regret that this myopic-minded opposition politicians in Adamawa state have crossed the boundaries of political mindgames by trying to tarnish the image of the court in the state.
The justice system is the mechanism that upholds the rule of law. Our courts provide a forum to resolve disputes and to test and enforce laws in a fair and rational manner. The courts are an impartial forum, and judges are free to apply the law without regard to the government’s wishes or the weight of public opinion.
Court decisions are based on what the law says and what the evidence proves; there is no place in the courts for suspicion, bias or favouritism.
This is why justice is often symbolized as a blindfolded figure balancing a set of scales, oblivious to anything that could detract from the pursuit of an outcome that is just and fair.
And if any person, group or institution sees the court differently from the above mentioned, like the #IstandwithNyako just did. I repeat, that’s a blatant disrespect and contempt of the court of law and that shouldnt betaken lightly.
Nyako and his team has continue to give the good people of Adamawa state justifiable reasons to loathe their coming back to power. It is no wonder that the Lamido of Adamawa threw him out of the emirate and the people are praying that it will be the last they will hear of Admiral Nyako and anything to do with him after the December 16th Supreme Court Judgement.
I join the good people of my state in this praying point too. May it be the last we hear of Admiral Nyako and anything to do with him. Amin.
Barrister Bala wrote in from Yola and he can be reached on balamaduint@yahoo.com
