TheCable

A group known as Free Nigeria Movement (FNM) has asked the election tribunal to uphold the integrity of the judiciary while delivering judgement on the petitions.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, Moses Paul, convener of the group, said all decisions and processes of the tribunal should be transparent.

“The courts are buffers in society. The legal system of any country is a measure of its development. Though there are no perfect ones anywhere on the planet, there are and will always be better ones,” he said.

Talking about the role of the judges in the presidential election petition,  the convener said, just like Nigeria, the judiciary also stands at a “historical crossroads”, adding that “their actions and inactions portend a great impact on the nation”.

He further called on the judges “to uphold their integrity to defend the dignity of our country in all their decisions”.

Paul added that judges being humans should “feel the pains of all Nigerians irrespective of how high their placement in society may be”. Therefore, in the interest of the nation, judges should “understand that whatever decision they arrive at, the gains or pains will go around”.

“We call on the family members, communities, religious leaders, friends, associates, and colleagues of the judges to insist that they do the right thing. The integrity of the judiciary must be upheld in all decisions and the processes must be transparent.

“The courts must never be used as an instrument to fuel the desperation of politicians and their surrogates.”

According to the group, the decision of the presidential election tribunal should demonstrate to Nigerians that their voice is in courtrooms and not only on the street.