Obaseki’s Love For The Rule Of Law Vs The Case Of 3 Judges

Obaseki’s Love For The Rule Of Law Vs The Case Of 3 Judges

By Isi Odion

Governor Godwin Obaseki is a very funny character.He has forgotten that he who lives in glass houses should not throw stones .The Edo State Judicial Service Commission sent 16 names of Judges to be appointed in the Edo State Judiciary in November,2022 to the National Judicial Council. Before then, they had gone through clearance with the Nigerian Bar Association Benin Branch, the Department of State Services and the Edo State Judicial Service Commission.The National Judicial Council (NJC) did not announce nominees to be sworn as Judges till June ,2023 Eight names were sent for appointment.Godwin Obaseki as Governor refused to swear them in for about a year .

By the time he eventually decided to do so in mid 2024 , he swore only five and refused to swear in 3, which is the first of its kind any where in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.Many suspects are rotting in jail and cases are having longer adjournments due to the paucity of judges .As we speak,aside the 3 Judges not sworn in there about 5 additional vacancies at the Edo State Judiciary and unless those 3 are sworn in, there will be no additional appointments into the Edo State Judiciary.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has refused to swear in the 3 Judges approved by the NJC, who are : *Maureen Omoruyi Ojo, Jeff Okundamayi and Edoghogho Eboigbe* for no just cause .His excuse is that there are Petitions against them ,after their clearance to be sworn in by the NJC, a novelty in the history of Nigeria.When asked to provide the Petitions he did not see any Petition to bring .This is the same man talking about rule of Law .The only Governor in the history of Nigeria that has refused to swear in Judges for about a year , that has refused to swear in 3 of the Judges and that inaugurated the Edo State House of Assembly in June ,2019 by 9:30pm.at night and after that ran a 24 Member House of Assembly, with 10 Members for 4 years .This is the same man talking about the Rule of Law .

Governor Godwin Obaseki has no democratic credentials.He does not have the moral compass to talk about the Rule of Law .

Asue Ighodalo is also complicit in the non swearing of the 3 Judges .As Chairman of the Alaghodaro Summit he invited the three Judges not sworn in to Summit , where he addressed them rightly as “My Lord”.

He however wrote another letter withdrawing their invitation and now he addressed them as “Dear Sir/Madam “.It means that Governor Godwin Obaseki and Asue Ighodalo are working hand in hand in not swearing the 3 Judges and Edo State People should use their votes to oppose such impunity.It is not to speak grammar that matters ,do you do the right thing ?

Grammar without the will to do the right thing amounts to nothing.

Edo People should vote our these people and any thing they represent .You can not do the wrong thing and expect to get the right thing .

The National Judicial Council again some few days ago gave a confirmation that they should be sworn in as provided for by Law .

If you mean well for Edo State and you stand for the rule of Law ,then swear in the 3 Judges approved by the National Judicial Council.

Edo has been a role model for good governance.This is not the Edo of our dreams .

-Isi Odion is Head of Information,

Edo Freedom Project.

Published by Caleb Alfred