By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has been called upon to urgently investigate the petition before the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Honourable Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court.
The call was made by three chieftains of the factional Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, loyal to the National Secretary of the party, Senator Samuel Anyanwu at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
The PDP chieftains-Hon. Austine Nwachukwu (Chairman, Imo State PDP;
Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, Chairman Abia PDP and Turnah Alabh George), while addressing the press conference, pleaded that the NJC should take decisive action on the matter, just as it had done in similar cases involving judicial misconduct in Rivers State, Imo State, and other jurisdictions, where they were seen to have acted promptly as soon as the petitions were received by them.
The NJC, they stressed, must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and the preservation of judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay.
The Nigerian judiciary, according to them, must remain the last hope of the common man and not a tool in the hands of those seeking to subvert justice for political expediency.
They reasoned that NJC’s prompt and transparent action on this petition will go a long way in restoring faith in the judiciary and reinforcing the principle that no one, no matter how highly placed, is above the law.
In the statement titled, “NJC Must Act Swiftly on Petition Against Justice AL. Akintola of Oyo State High Court”, the PDP chieftains said, “We want to draw the attention of members of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Nigerian public to a petition before the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Honourable Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court.
“The petition, dated November 5, 2025, and duly received by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, 2025, was submitted by Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, and Turnah Alabh George on behalf of the themselves as critical stakeholders of PDP.
“The petition raises serious concerns over what is described as acts of judicial recklessness, impunity, and flagrant violation of established legal processes by Justice Akintola, particularly in his decision to issue an ex parte order on November 4th, permitting the conduct of the PDP National Convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
“This order, according to the petitioners, directly contradicts a valid and subsisting judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja delivered on 31st of October 2025 (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025), which had expressly restrained the PDP from holding its convention on the same dates.
“The petitioners rightly contend that Justice Akintola’s action amounts to sitting on appeal over a judgment of a court of coordinate jurisdiction-an act that undermines judicial hierarchy and the sanctity of the rule of law.
“This disturbing development not only threatens the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary but also risks setting a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the justice system.
“We therefore call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to urgently investigate this matter and take decisive action, just as it had done in similar cases involving judicial misconduct in Rivers State, Imo State, and other jurisdictions, where they were seen to have acted promptly as soon as the petitions were received by them.
“The NJC must reaffirm its commitment to discipline, impartiality, and the preservation of judicial integrity by ensuring that errant judicial officers are held accountable without delay.
“The Nigerian judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man and not a tool in the hands of those seeking to subvert justice for political expediency. “The NJC’s prompt and transparent action on this petition will go a long way in restoring faith in the judiciary and reinforcing the principle that no one-no matter how highly placed is above the law”, the statement concluded.
