By Praise Chinecherem
Abuja based lawyer and indigene of Obeledu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Dr. Emeka Obegolu SAN has responded to allegations of corruption imputed against the Judiciary by the State Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye of aiding influential members of the state to secure release of arrested cultists and criminals in the state.
The Commissioner had during a chat with reporters alleged that some powerful individuals had been approaching the Judiciary to lobby for the release of arrested and remanded cultists.
“Could you imagine that the cultists we arrested, charged to court, and got remanded in prison custody, that some powerful locals are going to the Judiciary to lobby to get them released? And some have been released. And they are the ones unleashing this mayhem again! That is number one…” he alleged.
But Obegolu, in his reaction described the CP’s comment as highly defamatory of the Judiciary with enormous tendencies to tarnish its image, especially in the eyes of the common man.
He said, “The Honourable Commissioner of Police should know better that his comment is highly defamatory of the Judiciary and has enormous tendencies to paint the Judiciary black in the eyes of the common man.
“This callous and unguarded statement has far-reaching detrimental consequences both to the noble profession of law, and the sanity of the society generally.
“First, more than the Commissioner of Police realizes, the misguided public may resort to the era of jungle justice if they feel that the Judiciary who they believe is the last hope of the common man perverts the course of justice.
“Again, the Honourable Commissioner of Police has succeeded in creating the impression that he is afraid to name the “influential Anambrarians” but does not have regard for the Judiciary. This, on its own, is indeed worrisome”.
While demanding for public apology to the Judiciary, Obegolu alleged that the CP knew the influential individuals, which he demanded he should unmask.
“Apparently, the Honourable Commissioner of Police having made delicate statements of this nature knows these influential Anambrarians.
” I therefore call on him to mention these influential Anambrarians who have with the aid of the Judiciary, perverted the course of justice, or immediately tender a public apology to the Judiciary.
“More than ever, we must jettison name-calling the Judiciary on every wrong in society,” he added.
