The reinstatement of the retired Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Raliat Habeeb-Elelu, is causing some stir in the state, with the Action Congress of Nigeria and the state government taking up each other.
The ACN in a statement early on Sunday, said that the judgemnt of the Supreme Court on Friday restating Habeeb-Elelu was a step forward in the quest for justice and fairness.
The party described the sack of Habeeb-Elelu as just one of the many injustices and impunities of the state government under the leadership of former Governor Bukola Saraki.
But the state government in a counter-statement this evening, said that it had read what it termed statements from some doubting Thomasses on the Habeeb-Elelu case.
It said even while it remained neutral on the issue, it was paying the entitlement of the sacked chief judge while the case lasted.
The ACN, in the statement signed by the Kwara State Chairman of the party, Kayode Olawepo, alleged that the state government in a similar case has continued to hold on to the entitlements of pensioners and some councillors and council chairmen
Olawepo said: “The party received the news with extreme joy because the judgement represents a step forward in our people’s longstanding quest for justice and fairness.
“If anybody doubted that the Saraki government was one of impunity, lawlessness and disregard for due process, the Friday ruling served as an eye-opener, and further strengthens the people’s confidence in the rule of law. We are not unmindful of the antics of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government to dampen the spirit of the honourable justice and undermine the Supreme Court ruling, but, as the court verdict has shown, there will always be a tragic end to impunity and mischief.
“We urge anybody or group of persons who may have been sucked in by the antics of the PDP hawks to resist the reinstatement of Justice Habeeb-Elelu to review their position because injustice done to one is injustice done to all. It is Justice Habeeb-Elelu today; it may be you tomorrow.”
But Abdulwahab Oba, the Chief Press Secretary of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State, said in a counter-statement: “Attention of the Kwara State Government has been drawn to unwarranted and baseless insinuations by the Action Congress of Nigeria as a result of the reinstatement of Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb as the chief judge of the State.
“While the State refuses to be drawn to any further furore over the reinstatement as a result of the finality of the judgment, it is expedient to refresh the memories of never-do-well Thomases on the issue.
“Government wishes to state as follows:
“1. That abinitio it has no issue with reinstated justice as it was the crises in the judiciary that necessitated government reporting the case to the State House of Assembly which intervened the way it did.
“2. To demonstrate government’s neutrality on the issue, all her entitlements were being paid while the case lasted.
“3. That as a law abiding state which believes in the supremacy of the law, immediate steps are being taken to comply with the supreme court judgment.
“4. That for the umpteenth time, the state government is not owing any pensioner of the State Civil Service. The arrears of pensioners dating back to the pre 2003 period were settled on installments since the administration of the immediate past governor of Sen. Bukola Saraki.
“5. The payment of entitlements of councillors and chairmen of local government is solely the business of local government authorities. But because of the inability of most local governments to meet up with their statutory obligation in this regard, the State government has magnanimously intervened and this is already yielding fruits as payment is on-going.
“While it is impossible to dissuade ACN from its politics of hatred, we advise the party to cross check facts as not to mislead the unsuspecting people of the State.”