Former Attorney-General of Abia State and esteemed member of the inner bar, Prof Awa Kalu, SAN, has emphasized the imperative need for accountability in the wake of the contentious Court of Appeal judgment that ousted Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State. Kalu expressed his concerns in an interview, asserting that the controversy surrounding the judgment requires decisive action to prevent further tarnishing of the judiciary’s reputation.
The Court of Appeal’s three-member panel unanimously removed Governor Abba Yusuf from office, upholding the decision of the Kano State Governorship Tribunal, which had declared Dr. Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful winner.
However, post-judgment, a significant contradiction emerged in the document, where the conclusion favored the governor, while the ratio decidendi (reasons for the judgment) appeared to be against him. Despite acknowledging this inconsistency as a clerical error, the appellate court affirmed its decision to remove the governor.
Prof Awa Kalu, SAN, has now called for a thorough investigation and consequential actions against any judicial officers found culpable in upholding the integrity of the judiciary. The incident, if left unaddressed, could cast a shadow on the credibility of judicial processes and erode public trust in the justice system. Kalu’s stance underscores the urgency of maintaining transparency and accountability within the legal framework.
