GROUP TACKLES EDO GOV OVER CLAIM OF JUDICIAL AUTONOMY

 

 A non-governmental group, Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary (V4IJ), has taken up  the Edo State Governor-Governor Godwin Obaseki over his claim that Edo State Judiciary is autonomous.

THE SQUIB authoritatively gathered that the  Convener of the Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary ,Douglas Ogbankwa Esq ,has rebutted the claim of the Edo State Governor that the Judiciary in Edo State  is financially autonomous,stating that the facts and evidence of the matter are completely at variance with the statement of the Governor on the matter  recently .

This was made known In a press  statement issued in  Benin  City , the Edo State Capital on Monday the 27th of April ,2021, wherein the  Group stated ,thus :

"We challenge the Governor of Edo State ,HE Governor Godwin Obaaeki to show account statements of the stated transactions  that supports his unfounded statement that the Judiciary in Edo State is financial independent.We also challenge the Governor to come  clean by showing Nigerians evidence of approvals ,processing of same , mandate and evidence of  release of funds to the  Edo Judiciary to either confirm his assertions or debunk same .

Beyond the political rhetorics ,the Edo State Governor should follow the template provided by Law  and push for the Law currently pending in Edo State House of Assembly,which provides for  the financial and institutional  framework for the implementation of Section 121 (3) of the  Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,1999 (As Amended ),by the 4th Alteration, which provides for complete financial autonomy for the Judiciary,which sadly has not even been accorded  first reading by the Edo State House Assembly,for reasons that are clear to the blind  "