The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has accused Justice Barka of plotting to influence decisions of the panel set up by the Court of Appeal, handling cases involving Rivers State.
HURIWA alleged that Justice Hamma Barka is involved in a plot to influence decisions unfavourable to the state and called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), as well as the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) to investigate his actions, which according to them, “could undermine the financial stability of the state.”
Justice Barka could not immediately be reached for comments but HURIWA frowned at the immediate dissolution of the panel a few hours after the court of appeal ruled against the pro-Wike allies.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Abuja on November 11, constituted a special panel, to handle cases from Rivers State, In a bid to streamline the ongoing feuds in the state.
The panel set up by the Court of Appeal President Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem is made up of three justices; Justice Onyekachi Otisi as head, while Justices Misitura Bokaji-Yusuf and James Abundaga as members, all tasked with resolving the legal issues in the state.
The panel commenced sitting on Thursday, November 14.
The move by the Appellate court is in a bid to settle the political cases in the state as the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has continued to battle for supremacy.
The panel was scheduled to hear a series of cases including appeals filed by Governor Fubara and the Rivers State House of Assembly, alongside cases involving both the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress regarding the alleged defection of 27 lawmakers loyal to Wike from the PDP to the APC.
In a statement on Friday released by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA decried the disbandment of the panel, alleging a plot to favour loyalists to Wike.
The group said, “last night, under what HURIWA describes as intense political pressure from forces allegedly linked to loyalists of former Governor Nyesom Wike, the special panel was abruptly disbanded, following a ruling by the same panel that favoured Rivers State, leading to suspicions of external influence to manipulate legal outcomes.
According to HURIWA, Justice Barka, allegedly influenced by powerful political forces, disbanded the panel and reassigned its cases to his direct supervision, jeopardising judicial impartiality and raising concerns about undue interference in the state’s legal matters, especially those tied to the control of federal allocations.
HURIWA said the “recent development is not occurring in isolation. Just days ago, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi, overturned a Federal High Court ruling that had halted the October 5 local government elections in Rivers State.
“The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had initially restrained the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) from conducting the elections, citing jurisdictional issues and restrictions on the use of the 2023 voters’ register.
“However, the Rivers State government contested this decision, arguing that Justice Lifu lacked the authority to preside over state election matters.
“The Court of Appeal agreed, ruling that the Federal High Court had overstepped its bounds, as the relevant sections of the Electoral Act did not apply to state elections.
“This was seen as a significant legal victory for the Rivers State government, affirming the state’s authority over its electoral processes.”.
In light of these legal victories for Rivers State, HURIWA expressed concerns over the sudden dissolution of the special panel and alleged that Justice Barka’s decision to consolidate these matters under his own jurisdiction could compromise the fairness of rulings, potentially disadvantageing the state in its legal struggles.
HURIWA highlighted the significance of maintaining judicial impartiality, particularly in cases that impact a state’s financial stability and autonomy.
The group fears that if the judiciary is seen as susceptible to political influence, public trust in the legal system will erode, and the rule of law will be compromised.
HURIWA therefore, urged the NJC, the CJN, and the PCA to urgently investigate Justice Barka’s actions, to ensure transparency, fairness and eliminate political pressures that might sway its rulings.
“HURIWA stands for a judiciary that is accountable and free from manipulation, the sudden disbandment of a special panel that was already delivering judgments indicates a worrying trend that needs immediate redress,” the group said.
Group Alleges Interference In Rivers Judicial Panel To Aid Pro-Wike Allies is first published on The Whistler Newspaper