A Coalition of SouthWest Groups, under its umbrella body, the Coalition Of The Yoruba Youth Network (YYN), comprising the South West Blossom Brigade (SBB), the Odua Youth Frontiers (OYF), the Yoruba Youth Empowerment Forum (YYEF), the Voice Of Yoruba Youths (VOYY), the Odua Progressive People Assembly (OPPA) and no fewer than fourteen other youth organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) have reacted to the Court of Appeal judgment on the Kano State governorship election petition between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as it relates to the integrity of the Nigerian Justice System.

The Coalition urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria, as the highest judicial authority in the country, to exercise its responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary by thoroughly reviewing the case.

They noted that “by conducting a thorough review of these rulings, the Supreme Court can demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all.”

At a world press conference in Lagos, South West of Nigeria, the groups insisted that it will be detrimental to the principle of justice and democracy in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Coalition of Southwest Groups, Comrade Razak Olukayode, argued that a similar situation in Osun State, as presented itself in the Kano State governorship election petition, did not lead to the nullification of the election of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

He said, “This coalition of Southwest groups is deeply concerned about recent controversial Appeal Court rulings on the Kano State Governorship election, which has raised serious questions about the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.

“We wish to caution against compromising the nation’s judiciary and emphasize the importance of maintaining its independence, transparency, and integrity.

“In the case of the Kano Governorship election, the ruling of the Court of Appeal has raised doubts about the fairness of the nation’s judiciary and the legitimacy of the electoral process.

“This ruling severely jeopardizes the expected role of the judiciary as the cornerstone of democracy and justice in any nation.

“We observe that the Court of Appeal decision in the Kano case of Abba vs APC has deviated from established principles of electoral jurisprudence regarding the issue of nomination and sponsorship, which falls under the exclusive purview of pre-election matters.

“Various judicial authorities, including the recent Peter Obi v INEC case, have emphasized that only the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate over nomination issues”, the Coalition said.

According to the groups, the “Tribunal in the Abba vs APC case correctly stated that nomination is a pre-election matter but could not make a pronouncement on the issue due to lack of jurisdiction.

“We highlight the injustice of upholding the Tribunal’s decision to nullify 166,000 votes from the tally of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and sacking the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.

“The Appeal Court’s decision to uphold the nullification of such a significant number of votes without proper justification undermines the democratic fabric of the nation and raises questions about the impartiality of the judiciary.

“The decision to nullify 166,000 votes from the NNPP’s tally in the Kano governorship election raises questions about the consistency and fairness of their judgments. In this case, the court cited irregularities and non-compliance with electoral laws as the basis for nullifying the votes”, the Coalition added

They further argued, however, that “it is essential to note that similar irregularities were present in the case of Governor Adeleke, where the Court of Appeal ruled against nullifying votes.

“By nullifying votes that were deemed to be irregular in Kano, the court fails to address the contradiction in its ruling in the case of Governor Adeleke, where similar irregularities were present but not nullified.

“This inconsistency in applying legal principles undermines the principle of equal treatment before the law and raises doubts about the court’s impartiality.

“Furthermore, the controversies surrounding the discrepancies between the judgment read out by the court and the content of the Certified True Copy of the Judgment in the Kano governorship election raise serious doubts about the transparency and integrity of the judicial process.

“These discrepancies have led to confusion and speculation among the public, further eroding public trust in the judiciary.

“While it is necessary to ensure that political parties adhere to electoral guidelines, the decision to upturn the entire election in Kano raises questions about the legitimacy of the democratic process.

“Arguably, this ruling undermines the people’s right to choose their leaders and places excessive power in the hands of the judiciary. This controversy highlights the need for a balance between upholding the rule of law and respecting the democratic will of the people”, they further stated.

The contradictions in the Court of Appeal’s decisions, they said, “highlight the need for a comprehensive review of the electoral laws and the judicial process. It sets a dangerous precedent for future elections.

“Nullifying the Kano votes and allowing those of Osun without clear and consistent legal reasoning can lead to a loss of public trust in the judiciary and the electoral process.

“Moreover, it opens the door for potential abuse of power, as political actors may exploit these inconsistencies to manipulate election outcomes.

“The court’s role should be to provide clarity and consistency in interpreting and applying the law, rather than contributing to confusion and uncertainty.

“The controversies surrounding these rulings also raise questions about the accuracy and reliability of the court’s decision-making process, suggesting a lack of attention to detail and procedural irregularities. This further erodes public confidence in the judiciary.

“We emphasize the need for a review of these rulings to ensure that justice is served and the rule of law is upheld. By reevaluating the evidence and legal arguments presented, the Supreme Court can rectify any potential errors made by the Court of Appeal, thereby restoring public faith in the judiciary.

“The review of the Court of Appeal rulings on the Kano governorship elections is not only necessary to rectify potential errors but also to reclaim the threatened integrity of the judiciary.

“The credibility and impartiality of the judiciary are fundamental to the functioning of a democratic society, as they ensure that citizens have confidence in the legal system.

“The Supreme Court, as the highest judicial authority in Nigeria, has the responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the judiciary. By conducting a thorough review of these rulings, the Supreme Court can demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all.

“By rectifying any potential errors and ensuring that justice is served, the Supreme Court can reaffirm its commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining the principles of justice and fairness within the Nigerian democratic system.
The judiciary should exercise caution and impartiality when making decisions that impact the democratic process.

“In conclusion, we urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to act as a true statesman and renowned democrat by upholding the principles of separation of powers, particularly the independence of the judiciary.

“By allowing the free, fair, and uninterrupted application of justice, President Tinubu will demonstrate his commitment to the rule of law and ensure the continued strength of Nigeria’s democratic institutions. It is crucial for him to avoid any interference with the course of justice, keeping in mind that he himself has benefited from fair judicial adjudication.

“Interference with the course of justice poses a significant threat to the principles of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. Such interference can lead to a compromised justice system, eroding public trust and undermining the rule of law.

“President Tinubu must be cautious not to allow his name to be smeared in the dirty game of interference, as it would not only tarnish his reputation but also weaken the democratic fabric of the nation”, the Yoruba groups argued.

Protesting Yoruba youths, civil society organisations (CSOs) non governmental organisation (NGOs), under the aegis of the Yoruba Youth Network (YYN), the South West Blossom Brigade (SBB), the Odua Youth Frontiers, the Yoruba Youth Empowerment Forum (YYEF) And fourteen other youth organizations and CSOs in a Mega Coalition Movement, are demanding the immediate sack of Mele Kyari as Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and deep interrogation of allegations of monumental corruption entrenched in the NNPCL under his leadership.

At their rally and press conference in Lagos, South West of Nigeria on Thursday, the groups listed numerous cases of financial impropriety against Kyari, including fuel subsidy scams, under-remittance of oil sales revenue, corruption, shady pipeline surveillance contracts, and oil theft.

The Mega Coalition Movement said that they are deeply concerned about the instability of the prices of petroleum products resulting from the somersault in policies on.

Address the media, Olukayode James of the Yoruba Youth Network (YYN) and Oluwaseun Jesugbaiye of the South West Blossom Brigade (SBB) as well as Olayinka Oshinowo of Odua Youth Frontiers (OYF) and Femi Ayebiele of the Yoruba Youth Empowerment Forum (YYEF), said that “among the numerous cases of financial impropriety against Kyari is the deduction of N2.1 trillion from the monthly revenue of NNPC, which was not remitted to the Federation Account.

“Additionally, Kyari is believed to be responsible for the supply of adulterated or bad fuel that entered the country in 2022, causing damage to many vehicle engines and generators.

“These allegations of massive corruption and fraudulent diversion of billions of dollars to personal and cronies’ accounts must be thoroughly investigated, and Kyari should be prosecuted if found”, they said.

On the due process and transparency in Kyari’s appointment, the protesters said “We would like to highlight that the appointment of Engr Mele Kyari as GCEO of NNPCL did not follow due process as enshrined in the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

“Considering that NNPCL recently transitioned to a private company in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA Act, 2021), it is no longer allowed to have recourse to state funds.

“Its shares and assets, including oil blocks and refineries, are now held by the Ministries of Petroleum and Finance. However, NNPCL has failed to operate as a Joint Production Venture (JPV) with Western Oil Majors (WOM), as required by law.

“Furthermore, the NNPCL has not been transparent in publishing its crude oil contracts and statements of accounts under Engr Mele Kyari’s leadership.

“Lack of Remittances to the Federation Account
In 2022, Kyari and the NNPC management failed to remit any funds to the Federation Account for seven consecutive months.

“Despite Nigeria recording N16 trillion in oil sales during that year, the NNPC did not make any remittances. This lack of financial responsibility is unacceptable and raises serious questions about the management of the company’s revenues.

“Kyari must explain how these funds were spent and provide transparency regarding the companies that received subsidy payments”, the protesters said.

On matters regarding restoration, transparency and accountability in the Federal Government owned oil company, “As concerned and patriotic citizens, we believe that the government should be interested in knowing the true nature of NNPCL’s oil production contracts and remittances to the Federation Account, as well as the transparency of pipeline surveillance contracts awarded by the NNPCL in line with global best practices.

“We had expected the President Tinubu administration to insist on the implementation of the PIA or the PIB Act, not only to sack and probe Engr Mele Kyari but also other key figures in the NNPCL, such as the Executive Vice President (Upstream), Adokiye Tombomieye, Managing Director Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Ali Muhammed Zahra, and the Managing Director National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NPIMS), Bala Wunti.

“This comprehensive action is necessary to clean up the corruption and decay within the NNPCL”, the groups.

Speaking on inconsistencies in government actions, the protesters said that “It is unfortunate that Engr Mele Kyari, who allegedly shortchanged every Nigerian through under-remittance to the Federation Account, has been allowed to remain in charge of the NNPCL, while heads of other important departments and agencies, such as the CBN and EFCC, have been sacked, arrested, and probed.

“This raises the question of why the case of the NNPCL led by Engr Mele Kyari is being treated differently. If the government is genuinely committed to fighting financial malfeasance, oil theft, dubious pipeline surveillance contracts, fuel subsidy scams, under-remittance to the Federation Account, abnormalities, and lack of transparency in the NNPCL, then Engr Mele Kyari should not be allowed to continue in his position.

On their demand for the removal of Kyari as the NNPCL GCEO, the protesting South West groups insisted that “It is evident to most Nigerians that there has been no significant increase in oil production and remittance to the Federation Account since Engr Mele Kyari assumed the position of GCEO of the NNPCL.

“Therefore, we urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take action and fire and probe Engr Mele Kyari.

“This is crucial for the transparency, accountability, and development of the Nigerian petroleum industry.
Given the numerous allegations of financial improprieties and the lack of accountability within the NNPC under Kyari’s leadership, it is imperative that he be removed from his position.

“The Federal Government must take immediate action to address these issues and ensure that those responsible for corruption and embezzlement are held accountable.

“The Nigerian people deserve transparency, accountability, and a leadership that prioritizes the country’s economic stability and the well-being of its citizens.

“It is crucial to address these allegations, conduct a thorough investigation, and prosecute those responsible for corruption and fraudulent practices.

“Restoring transparency, accountability, and financial stability within the NNPC is essential for the well-being of the Nigerian economy and its citizens”, the protesters said.