Still on Supreme Court judgment on Rivers election

Some Supreme Court decisions have caused great frustrations and confusion and produced much disarray in law enforcement and criminal justice procedures. The placed strained if not distorted constructions on the constitutions, over ruled long established judicial precedents, shock led law enforcement agents; and by dubiously invoking specious procedural technicalities and grossly exaggerating the legitimate virtues […]

Some Supreme Court decisions have caused great frustrations and confusion and produced much disarray in law enforcement and criminal justice procedures. The placed strained if not distorted constructions on the constitutions, over ruled long established judicial precedents, shock led law enforcement agents; and by dubiously invoking specious procedural technicalities and grossly exaggerating the legitimate virtues of civil liberties, much guilt confessed and confirmed criminals have been released on society.
In my opinion, which I am entitled to under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the recent Supreme Court decision on the recent 2015 gubernatorial elections, especially, the  case of Rivers State have done more harm than any other single thing to contribute to a general atmosphere to cause electoral crime to increase in this country. When electoral criminals and their accomplices know that they can commit electoral crimes and may not be apprehended, but if apprehended stand a good chance of being allowed to get off a mere technicality, it only encourages more electoral crime, vis-à-vis, ballot snatching/stuffing, kidnap of electoral umpire/officials, killing, ,maiming and arson etc. The ‘wise men’ of the Supreme Court choose to close their eyes on the magnitude of violence that marred the Rivers State gubernatorial elections, based on the reason(s) best known to them, only for them to come around and give us some childish un-assailable reasons.
No wonder, they say the law is an “ass”; it punishes the innocent, and sets the guilt free.
The Supreme Court judgment has further demonstrated, or rather affirmed the ‘supremacy’ of the Supreme Court. A situation where, election observers, both local and international including two Courts, Tribunal and Appeal, and other Nigerians alike are wrong, by saying the election was below standards by all ramifications. They still went ahead to deliver the judgment the way it suits them.
As a concerned Nigerian, my only fear is not the morning of the judgment, but the evening. In other words, anybody can contest an election, and decide to win by ‘hook and crook’, including displaying all arsenals within his reach, bearing in mind that if he goes to court, especially the ‘Supreme’ he will get justice, using the services of the best ‘learned’ intelligent and erudite senior advocates of Nigeria (SAN’s) that money can buy. What a pity!
Is no more news that the States of Rivers, Bayelsa, in the South/South region and Kogi in the North Central are prone to electoral violence/malpractice. And they are also den of cultist. Very recently, a group of cultist killed over 20 people, during clash with one of the rival group, in Omoku, near Porth Harcourt, in Rivers State.
Finally, the Apex Court is trying to legalize electoral violence and other related crimes through the back door by applying the so-called technicalities of law as usual. God save Nigerian/Nigerians from our judiciary. What a hope of the so-called common man indeed!
Lest I forget, I am not for or against Governor Wike or candidate Peterside, either PDP or APC. Far from that, but to ensure that our votes count in future elections in Nigeria. This time around the Apex Court did not get it right period! And they must accept our criticism in good faith.
U.S Ladan Snr, a Human Right activist, wrote from Jos, [email protected]