By Controversial Abuja Federal High Court Judge, Justice Okon Abang has been accused by some youths in the northern part of Nigeria of receiving over N2 billion as bribe from Senator Buruji Kashamu (PDP, Ogun East), in the last two years.
The youths, Northern Youths Movement (NYM) said in a release signed by its Chairman, Mallam Ishaya Jato on Tuesday, August 30th that Justice Abang has now attained so much notoriety that he is widely regarded as a Consultant on any matter involving the Federal High Court.
The NYM said Nigerians should ask the Federal High Court President, Justice Ibrahim Auta, why all cases involving Senator Buruji in Abuja are always allocated to Justice Abang while those in Lagos are allocated to Justice Ibrahim Buba.
The group alleged that Justice Abang has turned the court to where justice can be procured the moment the right price is paid and that he (Abang) must have received not less than N2 billion from Senator Kashamu for controversial orders on PDP matters and the judgment on Abia State governorship tussle that was set aside with ignominy my the Appeal Court.
The youths said between 2011 and 2012, Justice Abang while in the Federal High Court in Lagos handled suit numbers; FHC/L/CS/282/12 and FHC/L/CS/347/2012 and was reassigned suit numbers FHC/L/CS/1248/2011, FHC/L/CS/347/2012 and FHC/L/CS/535/2012 and in the last six months, all cases involving Buruji Kashamu on the PDP are either assigned to Justice Abang or Justice Ibrahim Buba.
They said Justice Charles Archibong of the Federal High Court in Lagos, used to be Senator Buruji’s special judge until he was dismissed on account of one of the Buruji Kashamu cases on Ogun State PDP (among several other reasons). It is on record that Justice Archibong must have given not less than 20 Orders of an injunction, Committal to prison e.t.c. for Buruji Kashamu, with most of the judgments not than two paragraphs.
The mantle to do Buruji Kashamu’s bidding as paid, fell on Justice Abang when Justice Archibong was dismissed. Justice Abang must have granted not less than 20 Orders for Buruji Kashamu who pays per Order.
It was Justice Abang while in the Federal High court, Lagos that granted order barring the Nigeria Police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the State Security Service, and the Nigerian Customs Service from arresting and extraditing Senator Kashamu to the United States for trial over drug-related offences.
Senator Buruji’s other judge; Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos was the one who ordered personnel of the NDLEA out of Kashamu’s home when they laid siege in an attempt to extradite him.
The youths called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to give special attention to the handling of cases involving Senator Kashamu and any other cases being handled by Barrister Ajibola Oluyede, who is the head of “Senator Buruji Kashamu’s law chamber.”
