September 5, 2023
PRESS RELEASE
JUDGEMENT RESERVATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TRIBUNAL – STRONG CONDEMNATION OF THE CRIMINAL ACTS OF THE ENEMIES OF NIGERIA (OBIDIENTS) ATTEMPTING TO INTIMIDATE AND HARRASS THE HONOURABLE JUSTICES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL AND THE ENTIRE JUDICIARY.
“Obidients are dubious, criminals, blackmailers, and should be charged for contempt of court. You cannot get judgment by intimidating the judiciary. Judges’ decisions are based on evidence. We have been having election petitions since the colonial era, none has attracted such a level of blackmail and intimidation of the judiciary until now.”
– Mr. Femi Falana, SAN
The views expressed by Mr. Femi Falana (quoted above) in his interview with Channels TV Station yesterday, September 4, 2023, in their program, “Politics Today” are apt and we, at Progressives Clan strongly condemn these riotous online and offline attacks in the strongest possible terms and call for an immediate end to this criminality. This is a strange development.
The recent acts of gangster-like verbal attacks, slander and libelous publications of the very persons of the Justices of the Court of Appeal sitting as the President Election Tribunal, their families’ safety and the judiciary as a whole across all media outlets, social media and mainstream media across Nigeria in the name of an ambushing hashtag, “all eyes on the judiciary” are unacceptable. This is a copycat style from the Trumpian playbook but we know how the American system has been clamping down on the attack on American democracy; this is an attack on our Democracy.
These clear vicious attacks go to the root of the foundation of our hard-fought democracy and a profound threat to the rule of law, values of peace, justice, and tolerance. This lawlessnessmust never be condoned or tolerated by anyone, and we must stand united in denouncing these violent and criminal acts.Democracy is not a license for criminality or reckless behaviours.
They have employed all manners of intimidating, threats, hateful, barbaric, mischievous and libel contents and materials targeted at bringing the judiciary to disrepute and public ridicule, especially after the announcement of the Election Tribunal that it would deliver its judgement on Wednesday September 6, 2023. They have used innuendos, fliers, social media postings, billboards, T-shirts, and a host of other media to convey their unbridled attacks of the judiciary.
It is rather shocking that these criminal elements who named themselves, “Obidients” are actively led by some persons who also term themselves, “influencers”. Some of the arrowheads of these rampaging headless mob with their inciting and false media postings are as follows:
1. Aisha Yesufu
2. David Hundeyin
3. Charles Oputa (alias Charlie Boy)
4. Jackson Ude
5. Serah Ibrahim
6. Obiageli Ezekwesili
7. And a host of other satanic elements
We call on Nigerians to join us to take a stand against these enemies of the State today and going forward. We also charge the various law enforcement agencies saddled with the constitutional responsibility of upholding law to prevent further acts of social media terrorism against the Honourable Justices of the Court of Appeal and the judiciary in general. We can’t fold our hands and watch things deteriorate before us. We must act now before it is too late!
The ongoing judicial intimidation by the identified individual and their co-travelers has no place in our world today, and we must work together to eliminate the threats posed by disgruntled elements. We remain committed to promoting a world of peace, where all individuals can live without fear of violence or persecution.
We also use this medium to call on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the primary constituent of the judges of Nigeria to jettison their continued silence and condemn these crimes. This respected body of lawyers should not stand by and watch the judiciary being ridiculed by criminals who call themselves “Obidients“. They must take a stand now!
We urge all nations of the world to also come together with us in this fight against social terrorism, share intelligence, resources, and expertise combating this global threat to democracy. We must work to maintain the safety, security, and stability of our societies,
Let us all come together to protect our judiciary.
Thank you.
Signed
Coordinator