Gov Abiodun warns judiciary over injunction-seeking politicians

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has warned judiciary officers to be wary of the antics of politicians who use frivolous court injunctions to thwart the smooth running of the poll.

A statement by Abiodun’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, noted that the governor made this call on Monday at the special church service to usher in the 2022/2023 legal year held at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

The governor noted that the election period has always been the time when politicians use court processes for their selfish end, calling on the judiciary not to allow any politician to tarnish the image of the third arm of government.

“We are all aware that this country is preparing for another election in a few months’ time, beginning from February 2023. There will be heightened political activities and politicking. You should expect a barrage of applications for injunctions.

“I trust that members of the Bench in the Ogun State Judiciary appreciate the fact between objectivity and machinations of selfish politicians who just want to take advantage of the judicial process to thwart the smooth running of the elections.

“Therefore, I admonish you to be wary of entertaining frivolous injunctions from the political class, in particular, as we move towards the 2023 general elections”, the governor warned.

He further urged the legal officers to recognise that in a fledgling democracy, they must continue to be a strong pillar for the survival of democratic principles and preserve the rights of the people, who are the sole essence of government, while at the same time act as balancing scale between the Executive and the Legislative Arms of government.

Abiodun added, “Your processes are directly linked not just to crime reduction but also to employment generation, poverty alleviation and food security. In fact, when people are gainfully employed, there will be fewer criminal tendencies. The courts will have fewer criminal cases to attend to. In short, as an important and the third arm of government, the judiciary must continue to place itself in good stead as a reliable and trusted institution which is the last bastion of hope for the common man.”