A’Court ruling saga: NNPP urges NJC to investigate controversy surrounding Kano judgement

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The national leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has called on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to investigate the controversy surrending last Friday’s Appeal Court judgement on the March 18 governorship election in Kano.
Our Correspondent reports that the Appellate Court during its verdict upheld the decision of the Kano governorship election Tribunal which upturned the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the polls and gave it to Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
However, on Tuesday, a page of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Appeal Court judgement emanated indicating victory for Governor Yusuf, instead of APC’s Nasir Yusuf Gawuna.
During a Press Conference on Wednesday, NNPP National Working Committee (NWC) called for immediate investigation into the controversial Appeal Court judgement.
The NNPP Acting National Chairman, Abba Kawu Ali told journalists that: “We are calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC), to without delay commence investigation to unravel what happened in the matter.
“Also, we are calling on eminent members of the bench (both retired and serving) and the bar, to be interested in what happened that we have the kind of scenario presented in the CTC of the judgement of the Appeal Court.
“In addition we call on leaders, elders and other major Stakeholders in the Nigerian project, including the media, to step into this matter to avert the danger this type of signal from the judiciary portends for our democracy in particular, and our country in general.
“From the scenario presented by the judgement, it is crystal clear that something is wrong somewhere and the onus is on all of us as Nigerians to unearth the riddle.”
NNPP insisted that: “For emphasis, this is not just a mistake that can merely be “corrected” by the Court of Appeal as it doesn’t fall within the ambit of the “Slip Rule” where a Court can recall the document and correct an error.
“Such errors must be so obvious that their correction cannot generate any controversy, regarding the Judgment or decision of the Court. By the same token, such errors must be of such nature that their correction would not change the substance of the Judgment or alter the clear intention of the Court.”