Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former Edo State commissioner for information and critic of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 25, 2023 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has cautioned his media men from interpreting the law on the principal’s legal battle at the Supreme Court.
He advised Atiku and his publicists against running down the judiciary as it enters the crucial stage of delivering judgements on petitions by some presidential candidates in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
He specifically advised Atiku Abubakar against using his purported media committee to work against the justices of the Supreme Court.
In a statement he issued yesterday in Abuja which was made available to LEADERSHIP, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and media consultant, said those who still attack the judges should know that any matter that is before any court of competent jurisdiction should be allowed to be thoroughly exhausted by the authorities.
Afegbua said, “Those interested in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s downfall should please stop the current media trial and allow the Supreme Court do its job, in line with the procedural requirement of the court.
“Instead of setting up a media committee to blackmail the justices of the apex court, he should allow his legal committee to present his case before their Lordships so that they may argue his case with evidence that will address his gravamen. This recurrent resort to blackmail, armtwisting, media trial and backroom tactics will not work,” he said.
According to him, “The evidence that is being bandied and touted about should be taken to the Supreme Court, and if already there, should be left there to see if it will be accepted as extraordinary evidence. We will soon see the outcome, DV.
“In the meantime, let us please have some peace, respite and quiet. Atiku Abubakar’s publicists have become the interpreters of our laws, by passing verdicts on matters that are before the Supreme Court.
“The jurisdiction of the court must continue to be held sacrosanct and without prejudice. All the media attacks by Atiku’s publicists are ill-intentioned, destructive, and provocative to say the least, and should be stopped forthwith. Law courts are not comedy halls for exhibiting comical skills to please the audience. Law courts are hallowed chambers and temples of justice, where issues are presented, argued, and judgments delivered; based on the evidence canvassed beyond reasonable doubt.
The current attempts to blackmail the Supreme Court over the election matter only leaves a sour taste in our mouths. Political desperation strategies cannot be equated with judicial adjudication; there are extant laid down procedures for issues like this,” he said.
