PDP crisis: Makarfi faction accuses Sheriff faction of blackmailing judiciary

The crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got messier on Saturday as the Ahmed Makarfi faction accused the Ali Modu Sherriff faction of blackmailing the judiciary.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, the Makarfi faction said the Sheriff faction claims to have the judgement of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal in their pocket.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to yet another antic of the Ali Modu Sherriff group in their desperate bid to destroy our great Party.

“Lately the group has been boasting that they already have the yet to be delivered judgement of the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal in their pocket. The Appeal is on the Judgement of Liman J of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt Division which upheld the National Convention held on May 21, 2016 at Port Harcourt and all decisions arising therefrom.

“Sherriff and his cohorts have been boasting that they have the Appeal Panel in their pocket and that the yet to be delivered judgement is in their favour. We regard this as another direct assault on the reputation and integrity of the judiciary by these desperadoes.

“Not long ago they wrote petitions claiming to have some videos tapes wherein some Judges of the Federal High Court were alleged to have demanded bribes. Nigerians would also recall the extremely wicked, spurious and baseless petition written by this same group against the Justice Sankey panel of the Court of Appeal in the Ondo Governorship matter. By that they successfully blackmailed the Panel to recuse themselves from the case.

“They also tried to destroy the second panel led by Salauwa JCA. In an unprecedented and most bizarre action , the three Justices were joined as co-defendants in three appeals at the Supreme Court. All these in a dubious attempt to delay, deny and pervert the course of justice.

“On our part we hold the Judiciary as a sacred institution whose integrity, reputation and independence must be respected and protected. We would never do anything to denigrate the Judiciary no matter what.

“However we believe that the judiciary should also fight to protect itself. It must not allow itself to be blackmailed into submission. It must do all that is required to protect its integrity and honour. The greatest weapon of the judiciary in fighting these charlatans is to continue to do justice to all manner of people in all places and in all cases.”

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