Daily Champion (Lagos)

Nigeria: Yar'Adua Denies $30 Million Bribe to Supreme Court Justices

Godwin Akor

18 November 2008


Lagos — Contrary to speculations that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is becoming jittery over the outcome of the presidential election case pending at the Supreme Court, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Michael Kaase Aondakaa, SAN, has said that his boss was not moved.

Aondakaa who was reacting to the allegation that the Federal Government has influenced Supreme Court Judges with a $30 million bribe, also said the president had given no money to anybody because he believed in the rule of law and independence of the judiciary.

He alleged that some people have decided to intimidate government to win the case at the Supreme Court and maintained that the president was ready to abide by the verdict of the court on the issue of the 2007 presidential election.

"The president cannot give kobo to anybody to influence judgment. He is ready to abide by the Supreme Court Judgment. Some baseless allegations that I gave money to influence judgment was making the rounds. Such allegation was aimed at making us to lose focus but we will not. Infact, we are more focused than before", Aondakaa said.

He furthermore said the allegation was cheap blackmail orchestrated by those who wanted to win the court case by planting stories in the newspapers and called on journalists to be wary of such politicians.

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"Judges are highly trained people, they are God's representatives on earth. Some people think I am not focused but I want to tell them that the case has been argued and we are waiting for the judgment. We will not interfer with the workings of the judiciary because we believe in the rule of law and we are promoting and enhancing same", he added.

He said he was determined to refocus his ministry and assured the citizens that the rule of law would be taking firm root in due course .

On the verdict of the Appeal Court on the Edo State Governorship Election, the attorney general of the federation commended the judiciary.

"The president's stand is that once judgment is given in favour of any governorship candidate, he should be given every government support to enable him discharge his duties. The president is not biased, he has confidence in the judiciary", Aondakaa said.

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Author: kaparah
Tue Nov 18 20:42:30 2008

Welcome to the Club, Mr. President. OBJ was similarly accused of $50 Million bribe for the so-called "3rd Term Agenda." That is the specialty of our corrupt politicians. The only difference is that the media have learned not to sell their soul for a mess of porridge in pursuing the agenda of corrupt politician. As long as your conscience is clear, just ignore them and do your job so you can have a legacy to leave behind.

Author: jallohlaw
Wed Nov 19 04:18:12 2008

When did a denial morph into an adjudicated res the jurisprudence the so-called common law?

Even Satan denies being an enemy of God.

Your take, dude?



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