On Monday at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, where State and National Assembly appeal cases from Imo State were scheduled for hearing, the counsel representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), Echezona Etiaba, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), presented two petitions, purportedly written by his clients, alleging that the three-member panel was compromised.

The letter, read by the presiding Justice, accused Damian Dodo (SAN) of acting as a conduit to influence the panel, presided over by Justice Danjuma Mohammed from the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal.

The other panel members included Justice Peter Affen from Yola Division and Justice Asmau’u Musa Mainoma, a recently appointed justice.

However, Damian Dodo had never represented the Peoples Democratic Party or Labour Party in any pre-election or tribunal cases in Imo State, neither had he represented any party before the Court of Appeal.

In response to these allegations, the justices declared their innocence and chose to recuse themselves from the Imo State appeals.

They stated that they were only made aware of the cases they were assigned to and their fellow panel members just before the court session.

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Many lawyers present at the hearing expressed their anger and frustration at the unfolding events.

They condemned Echezona Etiaba for using his status as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria to present defamatory petitions.

These lawyers moved the panel to recuse themselves from the cases and criticized Echezona Etiaba’s conduct.

Ajuonuma Stanley, one of the lawyers present, called on the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee to investigate the unprofessional conduct, emphasizing that allegations of judicial bribery must not be taken lightly.

He also urged the President of the Court of Appeal to ensure that the cases are assigned to judges who cannot be compromised and to oversee a thorough investigation of the matter.