* Augie 

By Uche Aguoru

 It is no more news that Justice Amina Augie has recused herself from the panel constituted by the Supreme Court to hear the Ogah v Ikpeazu case. But what is surprising is to read  one of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu's aides, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji paint her in glowing colours:  "Madam Justice Amina Augie of the Supreme Court today epitomized prudence, probity and courage. She deserves our commendation and praise", Mgbeoji, Abia's Commissioner of Education stated in a facebook post. What hypocrisy and barefaced treachery! 

 Considering the length and trouble Gov. Ikpeazu went to in his attempt to smear Justice Okon Abang after his judgement removed him as governor, Justice Augie must have acted with the benefit of hindsight. Who knows what length Ikpeazu would go to tar her should the case go against him? It is therefore imprudent and hypocriticalof Prof. Mgboji to sing praises of Justice Augie. Rather he would have told us why Gov Ikpeazu is so scared of some judges.

 It would be recalled that when the case was called up for hearing at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, January 11, 2017,  before the court’s business of the day in the matter could be mentioned,  Justice Augie, interjected to say that she would not want to participate in hearing an appeal involving the 2015 Abia State governorship election. 

 The reason she gave is that after the Abia governorship election petition appeal at the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri, one of the parties (Ikpeazu) in that appeal who is a party to the present appeal had written a petition against her falsely, maliciously and baselessly accusing her of influencing the constitution of the panel that heard the appeal and the judgment which that party lost. 

 She went on to say that the petition was so baseless, unfounded, in bad faith and nothing could be farther from the truth. Therefore, she has to decline sitting on the panel because she is concerned that if judgment peradventure goes against that party, she may face another round of unwarranted attacks. Her words: ‘somebody may stand at the Supreme Court entrance staircase and address the press, saying all sorts of things.’ 

 Efforts by parties’ various lead counsel to give assurance of their confidence in the panel did not move her to change her mind. The matter was thus adjourned to enable the acting CJN constitute another panel which would not include her.

 Now, this demonstrates how desperate politicians have maligned, lowered nd undermined the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary. When a desperate politician loses a case before any court, he accuses the judge or panel of bias, corruption, compromise and all forms of unprintable allegations which he knows to be false and unfounded. 

 Apparently, what one can make of this is that the party in question, Gov  Ikpeazu, goes about using his undeserved unmerited ill-gotten and stolen mandate as Abia State governor to harass intimidate and denigrate any judge or panel who boldly refuses his desperate bribery overtures and gives judgment against him. It will be recalled that he did same to Hon. Justice Okon Abang who gave judgment against him in the case that eventually led to the instant appeal. 

 Now, it’s been judicially confirmed in open court, Supreme Court for that matter, that he did even worse to the Court of Appeal panel that gave judgment against him in favour of Alex Otti. 

 Surprisingly, his  penchant for propaganda  are endless, boundless and out of control. The basis of the present case against him is giving false information. And today, his media team is claiming on social and mainline media that Justice  Augie recused herself from the case because she is from Uturu (Dr. Ogah’s place, in Abia State). 

 This blatant lie is being peddled on his behalf and at his behest by no less a person than Mgbeoji,  a professor of law, and Dr. Ikpeazu’s commissioner for education, leading other liars. 

The Nigerian judiciary should take judicial notice of characters like Gov Ikpeazu and be bold to discourage such reprehensible misconduct of those Nigerian politicians who are bad and sore losers. It’s such elements that have thrown our hitherto exalted judiciary into the deep crises it unfortunately finds itself presently. It is hoped that the Ogah VS. Ikpeazu appeal presently at the Supreme Court will turn out a golden opportunity for the Supreme Court under the acting CJN, Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, to begin to restore and re-assert the integrity of the judiciary by doing justice without FEAR OR FAVOUR. This is the cardinal principle of justice dispensation.

 We expect that the CJN should take a clue from this unpleasant development to constitute a panel of justices who are above board, fearless, incorruptible, and who are ready to set the Nigerian judiciary on a new and sound footing. Opportunity knocks for our judiciary  in this matter. Let the CJN himself preside over the matter if possible,  leading a full seven-man panel of the Supreme Court. That way, whoever loses will not go about harassing or accusing judges baselessly. And this should be done very quickly as the same party is reported to be boasting that he will ensure the appeal is not heard quickly.