Tribunal Chairman Is A Wife Of PDP Stalwart - A'Ibom APC Chairman

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By UbongAbasi Ise

Mr. Ini Okopido, the  Akwa Ibom State Chapter Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has raised alarm over alleged  marital union of a chairman of the panel 2 of the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition in Akwa Ibom State and a stalwart of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP.
Addressing a  press conference over weekend, the state APC chairman made a shocking revelation that the head of the judiciary panel, Justice Jennifer Mbalamen Ijoho, is married to Prof. Tony A. Ijohor, SAN, a notable  PDP member  in Benue State before he was appointed as State Secretary General, SSG in the state. 
"Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the APC has established that  Justice Jennifer Mbalamen Ijohor, who is the Chairman of Panel 2, National and State House of Assembly Election Petition in Akwa Ibom State, has a strong family relationship with a PDP stalwart, and so, there is a clear conflict of interest in her work as the Chairman of the Tribunal. Indeed, we can say categorically that Justice Ijohor cannot discharge her duties as objectively as we would expect.
"We know for a fact that the husband to Justice Jennifer Mbalamen Ijohor, Prof. Tony A. Ijohor, SAN, is currently the Secretary to the Benue State Government under a PDP governor. Prof Ijohor, SAN is a strong PDP stalwart in Benue State. Before he was appointed SSG, Prof Tony A. Ijohor was an Adviser to the PDP Government of Governor Ortom in Benue State. He holds very strong and critical views against the APC. It is not farfetched if these sentiments are shared between husband and wife," said the party chairman.
Mr. Ini Okopido further advised the tribunal chairman to tow the same line of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, who recused  herself from presiding over the Presidential Election Petition Panel for the reason that her husband is an APC member. He pointed out instances in which Justice Ijohor made some critical decisions that showed prejudice against the APC.
 "You will recall that  it was only last month that the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa recused  herself from presiding over the Presidential Election Petition Panel for the reason that her husband is an APC member. Since Justice Jennifer M. Ijohor’s husband is a PDP stalwart and SSG in their home state of Benue, and she has shown obvious biases against APC, we are similarly calling on Justice Ijohor to immediately resign from further presiding over the Election Petition Tribunal in AKwa Ibom State.
"We have three major reasons to believe that Justice Jennifer Ijohor’s conflict of interest has become a burden for her, and so she has not been discharging her duties at the Tribunal objectively. One, the Petition number EPT/AKS/HR/08/2019 between Edidiong Efiong Idiong & APC (Petitioners) and Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, PDP & INEC (Respondents) in respect of Ikono/Ini Federal House of Representatives was struck out on the strength of interlocutory injunction application. This was despite spirited arguments by Counsel to the Petitioners drawing the Panel’s attention to the relevant sections of the Law to persuade the Panel. Of course, we have appealed the judgement.
"Secondly, in Petition number in respect of Hon. Ekerette Ekpenyong and APC (Petitioners) against Hon. Michael Enyong, PDP and INEC (Respondents) for Uyo/Ibesikpo Asutan/Uruan/Nsit Attai (Uyo) Federal Constituency, Hon. Justice J. M. Ijohor frivolously denied an amendment sort to the Petition by the Petitioners during the pre-hearing stage. The decision has been appealed.
"The Petition of Ekerete Ekpenyong and APC had also been similarly dismissed by Justice Ijohor on the flimsy excuse that the name of the Federal Constituency was not written in full. Our lawyers' spirited argument to have the Petition amended was rejected despite the fact that such amendments are routinely done at other Panels and indeed regular Courts.
"The third reason we believe that the Hon. Justice is biased against the APC and its candidates is rooted in the public statements and tweets of Henry Ijohor, who is the only son to the Hon. Justice. In his various statements and public communication, Henry has indicated more than a passing interest in the petitions filed at the various tribunals, particularly those in Akwa Ibom and Rivers State. In his tweet of 21st March, 2019, sent out at 8.24pm, Henry said: “The judges and lawyers handling Rivers and Akwa Ibom elections petitions have to be experienced. On the surface it’s obvious they’ll (sic) be a lot of pressure on them and a lot of work to be done” @BarrHenryIjohor.
"This piece of indiscretion must be taken for what it is: an informed interest in the activities of the Tribunals, particularly in Akwa Ibom State where a beloved mother is sitting as Chairman. The petitions  Justice Jennifer Ijohor is called upon to preside over and adjudicate upon are essentially between our Party, the APC and the PDP. If these scenarios which we outlined above do not present a clear case of bias and conflict of interest, we wonder what does. We have requested that she be removed from the Panel for the above reasons, and a new Chairman appointed,'" he declared.



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