A former Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo has berated members of the opposition cooking up stories against the judiciary.
OsunDailyNG recalls that the Court of Appeal, on Thursday, debunked the news that a member of the five-member panel handling petitions seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu, resigned.
A high-ranking official of the court, who spoke to Vanguard, described the information as “fake news”, insisting that it was the handiwork of “evil rumour mongers.”
The source, who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorized to speak to the press, maintained that “no such thing happened.”
He said: “I was with some members of the panel yesterday and I can authoritatively tell you that there was nothing like that.
Reacting to the allegations against the judiciary via Twitter, Keyamo lamented that the legal body constantly has to defend its honour due to stories from blackmailers trying to force the referred institution to do their bidding.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain warned those behind the fake stories to take a walk down history lane and read up on how the judiciary survived the onslaught of military regimes and dictatorial civilian regimes.
The erstwhile minister insisted that the judiciary has survived worst situations, hence the effect of the blackmail is lost on them.
According to him, “It’s now one day, one concocted story against the judiciary and judicial officers, all in a bid to blackmail that revered institution to do some parochial bidding. Never in our history has the Supreme Court or the judicial arm of Govt been forced to be issuing denials every other day over silly allegations without any scintilla of evidence, mischievously conjured and released by some dysfunctional minds who support some dysfunctional politicians.
“Well, these cowardly keyboard assassins and blackmailers should read our history very well: the Nigerian judiciary has survived the onslaught of military regimes and of dictatorial civilian regimes; it has survived coups and counter-coups where institutions of State were decimated, but it stood strong. It is a courageous institution that does not succumb to threats or intimidation.
“So, for these sponsored blackmailers, most of whom take shelter abroad to do their nefarious trade, just be informed that all your stories of blackmail will not tilt anything in favour of any party before our courts. Justice will be espoused ACCORDING TO LAW and not in deference to useless social media threats and blackmail. Sorry.”
