Governorship candidate accuses High Court Judge of misconduct, dereliction of duty

By GILBERT EKEZIE

The National Conscience Party (NCP) Governorship Candidate in Edo State in 2016 & 2020, Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon has petitioned Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court Kano Division (formerly of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division), over what he called misconduct and dereliction of duty by the Honourable Justice of the Federal High Court.

The release he sent to the media reads:

“A case of misconduct and dereliction of duty against Honourable Justice M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano Division (formerly of the Federal High Court, Lagos Division) dated January 3rd, 2022 by Pastor Peters Omoragbon, Gubernatorial Candidate of the National Conscience Party at the 2020 Edo State Governorship Elections.”

Stating further, Omoragbon disclosed what transpired was that the National Conscience Party instituted an Independent legal dispute against INEC and the AG of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on May 5, 2020, through Originating Summons with an Affidavit of Urgency.

“This case was not heard until October 13, 2020, where all the parties adopted their written submissions and judgement reserved till December 18, 2020. Even though the bureaucratic bottlenecks constituted a stumbling block to my aspiration as Governor in the Edo State Elections, I was very hopeful that no matter the undue delay, justice would eventually be served.

“It must be recalled that prior to the Edo State Governorship elections in 2020, INEC had ignominiously deregistered some political parties including the NCP. This led to a series of legal disputes against the INEC and judgement awarded against INEC, some of which are pending rulings at the Supreme Court.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the Press, as at today January 3rd, 2022, the ruling that was to be given on December 18, 2020, is yet to be delivered by Justice M. Liman,” Omoragbo lamented.

He maintained that Justice Liman’s action was a deliberate act of dereliction of duty “I am constrained by circumstances beyond my control to call this Press Conference over the deliberate act of dereliction of duty by Honourable Justice M. Liman over the legal dispute instituted by our Party, the National Conscience Party against INEC and the Attorney General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Omoragbon said it was in the light of the obvious challenge that he directed his legal team to petition the Honourable Justice.

“It was in the light of this abuse of office that I directed my Legal Team led by Barrister Marcus Eyarhono Esq to formally petition Justice M. Liman to the National Judicial Council for his dereliction of duty.”

The NCP governorship candidate said Nigeria is becoming a laughingstock due to what he called lack of transparency.

“Every day, Nigeria is made a laughingstock by other nations of the world by our lack of transparency and corruption in high places. Whose interest is being served by the inaction of Justice M. Liman if not that of INEC and by extension the Attorney General of the Federation? When will the Nigerian judiciary be separated from the executive branch?” He queried.

While displaying the certified copies of the petition, Omoragbon urged the media to hold every branch of government accountable.

“May I end this briefing by imploring the media to please, hold every branch of government accountable, from the Executive, the legislative and the Judiciary.” (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Sun)