Safety First, Reason Why Kogi Chief Judge Made U-Turn On New Deputy Governor

By Sentry

Tongues have been wagging since Kogi State Chief Judge, Justice
Nadir Ajana, swore in the state’s new deputy governor, Edward David
Onoja, on October 21, following the controversial impeachment of
the former deputy governor, Elder Simon Achuba.

The Kogi State House of Assembly had impeached Achuba in spite
of the report of the judicial panel constituted by Ajana to probe
the allegations of gross misconduct leveled against Achuba
declaring him as clean as a hound’s tooth. The Chief Judge was also
said to have sworn not to swear in Achuba’s replacement and had
rendered himself incommunicado just to avoid the unenviable
task.

It therefore came as a surprise to many that barely 24 hours
after the Chief Judge swore not swear in Onoja, he performed the
task against all expectations.

It has come to light, however, that Justice Ajana made the
turnaround after intense pressure from within and outside the
state, including subtle threats to his life by the powers that
be.

So intense was the pressure that a very senior legal mind
outside the state was said to have advised Ajana to “consider your
safety first and make yourself available to swear in the new deputy
governor.”

The senior legal mind reportedly told him that in the prevailing
circumstances, swearing in Onoja was the wise thing to do, saying
he was sure that the matter would eventually go to court and the
judiciary would do its job.