Barely two weeks after the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari, no fewer than two hundred more judges have been allegedly marked down for intimidation and persecution, according to Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike.
Nyesom, who made this allegation on Sunday, said that the APC-led Federal Government has allegedly marshaled out an onslaught to intimidate 200 judges, especially those on the federal bench.
Governor Wike said that credible intelligence intercepted by him revealed that a minister told a gathering that following the destabilisation of the Supreme Court, the next target will be the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court.
Speaking during the central healing service of the Greater Evangelism World Crusade on Sunday in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said that the APC-led Federal Government has collected the asset declaration forms of 200 judges from the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) for the planned mass onslaught.
“I intercepted a discussion by a minister of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) where he was telling a gathering that they are happy that they have dealt with the Supreme Court. The minister said that the next set would be the Court of Appeal judges and the Federal High Court judges. The minister said any judge that fails to cooperate will face trumped up charges and compelled to resign.
“This APC Federal Government has gone to the Code of Conduct Bureau to get the asset declaration forms of 200 judges. Any judge that fails to follow their evil plot, will be harassed with false allegations and persecution”, he said.
The governor noted that the APC-led Federal Government will generate several false allegations to compel upright judges to resign from the bench.
Governor Wike called on the Church to pray for the federal judiciary to survive the deadly siege by the APC Federal Government.
“The Church should continually pray for the federal judiciary. The judiciary in Nigeria is under siege. If anything happens to the judiciary, our democracy is in trouble.
“The Church needs to pray for the judges to remain strong in the face of intimidation and harassment”.
On the forthcoming general elections, Governor Wike urged the people to vote for the revival of the country. He said the country is not doing well and needs to make progress. He thanked the Church for praying for peaceful and credible polls in Rivers State.
Pastor Isaac Olori, International Director of Greater Evangelism World Crusade, said the forthcoming general elections are crucial to the country moving away from the era of under-development and siege.
He said that the Church shares in Governor Wike’s passion for prayers as a platform for making a difference in a Christian society.
Pastor Olori said every leader must have a listening ear and the ability to respond to the needs of the people by addressing their challenges.
He said, “We are not looking for helpless people to lead us. We want leaders with capacity. That is why the forthcoming elections are very important.
“If anyone is looking for leadership, be prepared to make a difference in the society.”
