BY EDMOND ODOK – Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole is thankful to a courageous Nigerian judiciary that he narrowly escaped being an ex-convict for his trade union days’ activities.
He said the judiciary demonstrated uncanny courage and lived above partisanship whenever the government came after him, deploying all coercive methods, including the instrumentality of Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Speaking when members of the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSON) visited him at the weekend, Comrade Oshiomhole confessed thus; “I have been a beneficiary of a very courageous judiciary and for a courageous judiciary. I would have been a convict because in the course of my work as a trade union leader, when I stepped on toes and crossed so-called government’s redline, they deployed all the weapons including the police.”
According to the former Edo State Governor, on numerous occasions that he was unlawfully arrested and prosecuted by the State, the judiciary stood on the path of truth in ensuring that justice was properly served and not manipulated.
“They had me arrested countless times; arraigned before Magistrates and Judges for all kinds of charges, like unlawful assembly and incitement. But each time they did that, I have been fortunate to appear before judges with courage.
“I have been defended by lawyers who most of the time provided their knowledge of the law and intellectual sagacity to defend me from government after government.”
Recalling his experience when vying for the Edo State governorship seat years back, Oshiomhole acknowledged that his aspiration would have been truncated but for the judiciary’s forthrightness and bravery in handling the case.
He went down the memory lane saying: “I am a beneficiary of the rule of law that most Nigerians will remember. I was rigged out of the election in Edo State when I contested for governorship in 2007, but for a very courageous judiciary and the industry of very learned senior members of the bar.
“The fact of rigging was established before the court at the state and appeal levels. I think, I am in history the only person rigged out of election and courtesy of courageous judiciary, I was declared the winner and INEC was ordered to swear me in.”
Pouring more encomiums on the courts and judicial officers, the former Labour leader said; “All my life, I will be appreciative of the role of the judiciary in our society not withstanding whatever criticism anybody may have.
“For me, I will say without fear or favour that I am a beneficiary of a courageous judiciary.”
The one time President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is expected to feature as Guest Speaker at the forthcoming National Conference on Rule of Law being put together by LAWSON.
