Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has called for the sacking of a judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice Okon Abang, over his biased handling of the trial of a former spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh.
Recall that a Court of Appeal had on Wednesday dismissed the conviction of Metuh by the Federal High Court.
Reacting in a statement, Fayose congratulated Metuh for his victory at the Court of Appeal over his conviction, which he maintained was politically motivated.
The former governor accused Justice Abang of being on a mission to convict the former PDP spokesman at all cost.
According to Fayose, the Federal High Court judge had engaged in abuse of office and miscarriage of justice which has caused innocent Nigerians untold sufferings in the past.
“In many judgments of the appeal court, Abang had been castigated and in some instances, referred to as a judge who acted like Father Christmas and give fraudulent judgments,” Fayose said.
“On August 18, 2016, five Appeal Court justices in their judgment in the case of Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu Vs. Samson Ogah, said Justice Abang committed a rape on democracy!
“Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju, who delivered the lead judgment in Okezie Vs. Ogah went further to say that Justice Abang ‘committed grave violence against one of the pillars of justice’ relating to fair hearing, turned the head of the law upside down in his conclusion that it was the appellant that should bear the burden of proof, embarked on a wild goose chase and that he spoke from both sides of his mouth.
“On October 14, 2016, a three-member panel of Appeal Court judges led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa said the judgment delivered by Justice Abang was as ‘fraudulent as it was violent’ and that the judge acted like Father Christmas.
“Today again, the appeal court said Justice Abang showed clear bias in the case of Olisa Metuh and that he behaved like a man who has a personal axe to grind with him (Metuh) and his lawyers.
“The question is, what is this manner of judge still doing in our court? Why can’t the National Judicial Council save the bench from this national embarrassment and Nigerians from avoidable sufferings in the hands of this Justice Abang?
“As for me, I see his judgments as one given from a reprobate mind. However, Justice Abang and his likes should know that what we sow, we will surely reap someday because every day is for the thief, one day for the owner.”
In its ruling on Wednesday, the Appeal Court held that the proceedings of the Federal High Court leading to the conviction of Metuh and his company, Destra Investment Limited, were tainted with bias, and therefore must not be allowed to stand.
Justice Adah, who delivered the lead judgment, held that the utterances of Justice Abang, in the course of the trial, established that he was biased against the convicts.
He, therefore, ordered that trial be conducted afresh.
He also directed that the case file be sent back to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge other than Justice Abang.
source https://www.naijanews.com/2020/12/17/metuh-why-justice-okon-abang-sacked-fayose/
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