NBA Set To Challenge Police On Kwankwaso’s Supreme Court Allegations

According to Ireporter Online, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced plans to petition the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies following remarks by Rabiu Kwankwaso, which the association says could undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

Kwankwaso, National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, had claimed that he accompanied Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf to visit Supreme Court justices during the litigation of the 2019 Kano governorship election. The NBA’s National Executive Council (NEC) described the disclosure as deeply troubling, noting its potential to erode trust in the judiciary and the electoral justice system.

In a statement shared on by Etaba Agbor, Secretary of the NBA Young Lawyers’ Forum, the association confirmed that the NEC had unanimously resolved to submit a formal petition requesting a thorough investigation into the claims. The petition, the NBA stated, would extend beyond Kwankwaso to include anyone whose statements suggest improper access to judicial officers or undue influence on judicial decisions.

The NBA emphasised that the petition does not presume guilt but seeks to safeguard the integrity of the legal system. “The objective is to ensure that allegations of this gravity are subjected to thorough, impartial, and professional investigation,” the statement said, warning that both false and substantiated claims of judicial compromise pose serious threats to Nigeria’s democracy.

The NEC instructed the NBA national leadership to formally write to the Inspector General of Police and other security heads, demanding a comprehensive inquiry into Kwankwaso’s remarks. The comments, made during an address to supporters following Governor Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), recounted his alleged visit to Supreme Court justices after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the 2019 governorship election inconclusive. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld Abdullahi Ganduje’s victory, rejecting Yusuf’s petition.

The revelation has sparked widespread concern among legal practitioners and civil society advocates, who argue it raises significant questions about the impartiality of Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence. Reiterating its commitment to the rule of law, the NBA stressed that the judiciary must remain free from political influence. “Only a robust, independent judiciary can guarantee democracy and uphold the rights of Nigerians,” the association stated, adding that it would pursue the matter to its conclusion to protect the sanctity of justice.