Real Reasons Yahaya Bello Wants To Remove Kogi State Chief Judge, Nasir Ajanah

The recent resolution by the Kogi State House of Assembly recommending the sack of the State’s Chief Judge or in the alternative asking him to step aside for alleged gross misconduct has elicited a plethora of reactions from several groups.

The turn of events in the frosty relationship between the duo, to those who have followed the situation in Kogi State will surely not be a strange occurrence. Sources who pleaded to remain anonymous, revealed that the situation worsened during the several court trials of a controversial senator from the state.

It was alleged that undue pressure was put on Justice Nasir Ajanah to incarcerate the embattled Senator; a move Justice Nasir Ajanah we were told stoutly refused and resisted.

The situation reportedly deteriorated when Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) vehemently rejected the table payment of salaries of judiciary staff because it was in violation of the principles of separation of powers and a subtle move to dismantle the constitutionally guaranteed independence of the judiciary.

The ensuing deadlock allegedly made JUSUN embark on an indefinite strike that has been sustained for over four months.The reported attempt by Kogi State government, through the Secretary to the State Government; Folasade Ayoade Arike in a presentation to the House of Assembly, was halted after some judicial officers applied for and secured an injunction that barred the House of Assembly from taking further action on the issue pending the resolution of the matter in court.

It should be noted that the courts have remained closed till date. Another suit on the same matter was instituted by Kogi State judicial staff to the National Industrial Court that is still ongoing.
It was alleged that with the gubernatorial election in Kogi State less than six months away, the general discontent over several months of unpaid salaries and pensions, the state government is said to be desperate to change the narrative in terms of how it is viewed by the civil servants in the state.

Sources stated that a perusal of the audit report that berthed the House of Assembly Public Finance Committee recommendation will reveal nothing but “mischief on the part of a House that has literally become a puppet in the hands of the directionless government in Kogi State.” Justice Nasir Ajanah’s brother; Hon. Kabir Ajanah of the House of Representatives reportedly lost his reelection bid because of the uncompromising stand of his judge brother.

“It is astounding that a state with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) as Attorney General and a former Assembly member and lawyer as Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Legislative Matters, will have such a brazen disregard for the rule of law.

“Justice Nasir Ajanah, is a renowned jury of integrity and impeccable character, he became the youngest judge in Nigeria at 33 during the Ibrahim Babangida era, and he was seen as the future of a resourceful judiciary in the country. It is just a matter of time before the futility of this latest onslaught on the judiciary in the state will manifest.

“The governor first sent a petition to the EFCC alleging some infractions against Justice Ajanah including ostentatious living, and having a multi-million naira home in Abuja.
“But during the course of investigation, it was discovered that the house he stays in Abuja with his family is a three bedroom rented apartment, which is in a block of flats like a barrack comprising about five blocks with about 20 flats or more as a Chief Justice . “He has never been a politician and not in support of any party, when it comes to his judgement, he does it with the fear of God,” says a source in Lokoja, the state capital.

Many have also wondered why the same government that exempted the judiciary from its long and strenuous screening and staff audit in deference to the principle of separation of powers now did a somersault insisting on table payment for judiciary workers and on that premise withheld their salaries, ” said another source.

It was gathered that as laudable as the staff screening exercise of Kogi State government might be, the outcome has not justified the pains and agony it has inflicted on Kogi State workers at the state and local government levels.
Our source said further that Kogi State Government is eagerly expecting to receive the balance of the bailout applied for by the Idris Wada-led administration in the state and as with other periods when the administration has benefitted from inflows, frivolous and unproductive ventures will crop up that will not allow the government do the needful.
It was also gathered that the state government cut power and water supply to the residence of the Chief Judge in the guise of carrying out renovation works.

The Governor, a source alleged once accused the Chief Judge of being a supporter of an opposition party.
What surprises observers however, is the fact that the Governor got to office by chance. According to a source, “we expected Governor Yahaya Bello to be a man of the people because it was the death of Audu Abubakar that paved way for him. He never even contributed anything towards the victory of the APC at the polls about four years ago.”

Investigations revealed a monumental rot in the civil service that needed to be tackled, but events of the past three and a half years, have shown gross ineptitude that has worsened the plight of civil servants in the State.
According to a source “the question on the lips of the people of Kogi State is, when will they get a reprieve from an administration that has been a personification of their suffering despite the abundant potentials of the state for prosperity and greatness?”