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KANO – A civil society group, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), on Thursday evening launched a scathing attack on Justice Simon Amobeda, a serving federal judge in Kano, accusing him of disrespecting the culture and tradition of the people of Kano.
Ambassador Ibrahim Waiya, the Convener of the group who addressed newsmen in Kano alleged that Justice Amobeda’s judgments have consistently undermined the state’s democratic processes.
Citizens for Development and Education (CDE), reaction came on the heels of a Justice Amobeda’s ruling against the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, prohibiting it from conducting local government elections.
Waiya posited that “This decision directly contradicts the Supreme Court’s directive that all states must hold elections before the end of October.”
Ambassador Waiya argued that “Justice Amobeda’s actions are tantamount to truncating democracy and frustrating the government’s efforts to conduct free and fair elections.”
The group claims that certain elements within Kano are exploiting the situation to advance their own interests, utilizing Justice Amobeda to thwart the democratic process.
Waiya emphasized that “the government, which took office in 2023, is facing significant obstacles from the judiciary, hindering development plans for the state.”
Waiya further alleged that Justice Amobeda had intentionally delayed delivering a judgment to coincide with an anticipated favorable ruling from the state high court, effectively blocking the electoral commission’s operations.
The group warned the judge that he would be held accountable for any consequences arising from his actions.
“We will not permit one individual to jeopardize the peace of 20 million people,” Waiya asserted. “We are not personally opposed to Justice Amobeda, but his attitudes are unacceptable. We are prepared to confront him.”
The group urged the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer Justice Amobeda out of Kano, cautioning that President Bola Tinubu must ensure the rule of law prevails in the state, particularly in light of his 2027 ambitions.
Waiya also criticized Justice Amobeda for delivering a judgment on an Islamic holiday, disregarding the cultural and religious sensitivities of the Kano people.
He stressed that “This development has sparked tensions in Kano, raising concerns about the integrity of the judicial system and its impact on democratic processes.”
