Azinge revealed that an effort had been made to bribe a member of the tribunal with money in an attempt to manipulate the course of justice in favor of a lawyer's client.
In an open court session on Tuesday in Kano, Azinge expressed her distress about the involvement of senior lawyers in unethical practices. The State Commissioner of Information, Malam Baba Halilu Dantiye, issued a statement addressing the matter.
The statement indicated, "The Kano State Government has been alerted to an accusation made by the chairman of Kano National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Hon. Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge, stating that there was an attempt to bribe a member of the tribunal with money to influence justice as she mentioned, 'money has been flying in the Tribunal'."
Dantiye stated that the state government takes the incident seriously, given the strong rumors that certain "powerful entities known for their corrupt behavior are working relentlessly to undermine the hard-earned mandate of the people of Kano State."
He noted that this incident serves as a litmus test for the current administration's commitment to combating corruption and upholding democratic principles. The state government urged for a thorough investigation into the matter and prosecution of those responsible. Dantiye also called upon anti-corruption agencies to take swift action, particularly since the allegation was made openly by a respected Judge.
The commissioner acknowledged Justice Azinge's actions as a positive testament to the integrity that still exists within the Nigerian judiciary. He expressed gratitude to the citizens of Kano for voting the NNPP into power, despite the challenges they faced in terms of resources. Dantiye concluded by recognizing and appreciating the determination of the people of Kano to defend their mandate through whatever means necessary.
