Postponement of Judgement Not Deliberate – Aondoakaa

By Dam Obed

The former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa, SAN has dismissed the allegation that the court has been manipulated and compromised following the postponement of judgment in his suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/877/2022, seeking the nullification of the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Benue State which was slated 17th November, 2022.

Aondoakaa stated that the postponement was not deliberate as such postponement was usual to courts. He stated further that due to unforseen circumstances including workload of the court, judgment may be delayed or postponed to a later date, and such delay or postponement can not occasion a miscarriage of justice once the judgment is delivered within the statutory period at a later date.

“It is a normal occurrence for courts not to deliver judgement on a given date, not just in my case, but any other case depending on prevailing circumstances. The postponement was not deliberate. From the explanation by the court that the judgment was not ready on the 17th Nov 2022, I am satisfied that it was occasioned by a genuine reason which in my view is normal. I want to emphatically state that the delay in the delivery of judgement in my case cannot occasion a miscarriage of justice,” said Aondoakaa.

The former Chief Law Officer of Nigeria also queried as mischievous and misleading the allegation that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, plans to manipulate the judgement in favour of the disputed governorship candidate of APC in Benue State, stating that such claims are deceptive and intentionally to cause unnecessary tension and suspicion.

“As the former Attorney General of the Federation, I can guarantee that the present Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, SAN cannot interfere in the judgement of any case. It is not true and should be disregarded. The exalted office does not interfere in the judgement of cases and should not be roped into such dishonesty,” he averred.

He also stated that the judgment would be delivered at appropriate time when it is ready. He assured his supporters to keep faith with the judiciary. Aondoakaa stated that the Nigerian judiciary is one of best in Africa which is the sole pillar upholding true democracy and justice in Nigeria. It protected and upheld the rule of law even under military rule, and urged his supporters, and the public to have faith in the judiciary as the last hope of our people.