CJN: There was an attempt to infiltrate Supreme Court over Abia judgement.

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Friday, decried an attempt by some unnamed people to attempt to influence the judgement of the Supreme Court over the governorship tussle between Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and Mr. Uche Ogah, who was attempting to unseat him.

He did in a post-judgement comments, where he warned Nigerians to stop trying to corrupt judges, as it would not augur well for the justice delivery of the country, which would in turn threaten its peace and security.

Though he did not name those involved, Onnoghen, who described the incident as a “security breach,” narrated how the attempt was made by the extraneous forces, using the staff of the court in the course of preparing the judgement.

The forces, according to him had tried to use the court officials to get to know the judges that would prepare the lead judgement and what the ultimate judgement of the apex court would be.

While indicating that the matter would be fully investigated and those involved would face adequate punishment, he urged Nigerians to allow the courts to do their duties in the interest of justice, peace and security of the country.

The Supreme Court, had on Friday, in its lead judgment prepared by Justice Dattijo Mohammed but read by Justice Ejembi Eko, dismissed Ogah’s appeal and affirmed the substantial decision of the Court of Appeal.

The court held that it was detrimental to Ogah’s case that the Peoples Democratic Party’s guideline around which the suit of the plaintiff was built was not presented before the court.

It also held that Ikpeazu as then a civil servant could hardly be found to have flouted tax payments when his tax deductions were at the source.

The apex court, however, disagreed with the appeal court on one issue, holding that contrary to the lower court’s decision, the suit filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja was rightly commenced by an originating summons.