Arewa Youths Want NJC to Intervene in Justice Barka PJ’s Move to Take Over Pro-Wike Case in Appeal Court

The AREWA Youths has described as suspicious, dangerous threat to the integrity of the Court of Appeal, the decision of the Presiding Judge of Appeal Court, Abuja, Justice Hamma Barka to sit over an appeal concerning a pro-Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) case before a Special Panel.

The Northern Youths who expressed worry over this sad development as being rape on the judiciary, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to wade into the matter before Justice Barka further drag the revered arm of government into disrepute.

AREWA Youths in a statement signed by its National Coordinator said Justice Barka’s action was undeserving of a judicial officer who should be concerned about the delivery of justice, peace, law and order in any part of the country.

“However, Justice Barka is bent on aiding and abetting the pro-Wike group’s resolve to keep Rivers State in a state of political and socio-economic turmoil making the judiciary a theatre upon which Wike fights personal and selfish political wars while peace deserts Rivers, the treasure base of the nation.

“A Special Panel of the Court of Appeal was set for Rivers political cases. The three-member panel led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, has been saddled with the responsibility of resolving all political cases surrounding the state at the appellate court.

“Since Wike left office as governor, Rivers State become theatre of political war, exercebated by the disagreement between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“The disagreement which has factionalised political institutions and actors in the state has led to situations where courts of coordinate jurisdiction had in several instances given contrary and conflicting orders to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies.

“It was in an attempt to resolve this imbroglio that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem set up a three-member special panel to hear handle all the appeals relating to the political disputes in Rivers State.

“The panel, headed by Justice Onyekachi Otisi which has Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga. It is to among others look into the sacking of the 27 pro-Wike lawmakers who defected from the PDP to the APC and seizure of Rivers State allocation.

“While the panel had yet dispense its responsibility, Justice Barka rattled to do Wike’s biding still wants to take over the case(s) in a rather suspicious manner that threatens judiciary’s integrity and peace of Rivers State.

“Worried by these turn of events, we call on the NJC which amongst other functions, is responsible for the Appointment, Promotion and Discipline of Judicial Officers to intervene in this sad reality to put Justice Barka where he belongs and save the judiciary the embarrassment and mess it is being dragged into by one of its supposed senior official.”