Appellate Court Judge, Justice Boloukuoromo M. Ugoh, has resigned from the bench over alleged demands from the executive branch to influence the Judgement of the tribunal, which he believes would destroy the country’s democracy.
In a statement, Justice Ugoh, who was among the judges preceding over the 2023 election petition, stated that siding with the government on this matter would be the ‘death of Nigeria’s democracy’, and that he could not in good conscience remain silent.
According to Justice Ugo’s remarks, he was requested to ‘cripple the independence of the court’ by finding in favor of a specific political candidate, whom he did not identify.
He was also instructed to withhold evidence and dismiss cases that could have an impact on the election.
Other Judges of the Election Petition Tribunal include the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Haruna Tsammani; Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal Asaba division, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Court of Appeal also of Asaba Division, and Justice Abba Mohammed of Ibadan Court of Appeal.
