The Convener of the Vanguard for the Independence of the Judiciary, Douglas Ogbankwa Esq, has rebutted the Claim of the Edo State Governor that the Judiciary in Edo State is Financially Autonomous, stating that the facts and evidence of the matter are completely at variance with the Statement of the Governor on the matter recently.
In a statement in Benin City, on Monday the 27th of April,2021, the Group stated, thus :
“We challenge the Governor of Edo State, H.E Governor Godwin Obaaeki to show account statements of the stated transactions that support his unfounded statement that the Judiciary in Edo State is financially independent.
We also challenge the Governor to come clean by showing Nigerians evidence of approvals, processing of same, mandate and evidence of the release of funds to the Edo Judiciary to either confirm his assertions or debunk same.
Beyond the political rhetorics, the Edo State Governor should follow the template provided by Law and push for the Law currently pending in Edo State House of Assembly, which provides for the financial and institutional framework for the implementation of Section 121 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (As Amended ),by the 4th Alteration, which provides for complete financial autonomy for the Judiciary, which sadly has not even been accorded first reading by the Edo State House Assembly, for reasons that are clear to the blind ”
The Group Concluded.