A former Governor of Kogi State, Capt. Idris Wada, has insisted that money was a deciding factor in the outcome of the 2015 governorship election petition in the state.
He was reacting to the discovery of huge sums of money and documents of ownership of multi-billion properties in the residences of serving judges during a sting operation by the Department of State Services, DSS, last week.
Mr. Wada stated that the DSS’ findings was a vindication of his earlier position.
The former governor spoke via a statement signed by his Chief Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, in Abuja on Monday.
Wada declared that the episode reminded Nigerians of his earlier call on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate a probe into the conduct of affairs in the Judiciary.
According to him: “I have observed with keen interest the raid by men of the Department of State Services and the arrest of judges alleged to have compromised their oath of office and what attracted my attention more, though not surprising, is the fact that the judges that we had accused of perverting the course of justice in the infamous case of inheritance of a dead candidates votes, were among those who will soon be having their day in court for alleged corruption.
“This is indeed a clear confirmation of my earlier alarm that things had fallen apart in the judiciary and my admonition to President Buhari to commence his anti-corruption fight from the third arm of government.
“From what we have seen in recent times, it would appear that the greatest obstacle to the Muhammadu Buhari administration is the corruption in the judiciary”.
The statement, however, noted that it would be wrong to use the same brush to tar all the members of the nation’s bench, stressing that his condemnation of some judges was not a blanket judgment on the judiciary, which he said, prides the best brains in the land.
“Whoever said the entire judicial arm of government is corrupt will be uncharitable to the revered profession. The bench parades some of the best brains and first class patriots that the nation can go to war with”.
He added that Mr. Buhari must fish out and punish corrupt judges for his much vaunted war against corruption to make meaning.
Mr. Wada also called on Nigerians to support President Buhari’s war against corruption so as to move the nation forward.
Nigerians have been divided on the current administration’s anti-corruption efforts
But the ex-Kogi governor pointed out that the nation has suffered enough and what was required was a non-partisan commitment towards solving the myriad of problems confronting the country.
“I also wish to remind all of us that the task of moving the nation forward is the responsibility of all Nigerians”, Mr. Wada said.
