NBA Demands Probe into Kwankwaso’s Supreme Court Bribery Claims
NBA Demands Probe into Kwankwaso’s Supreme Court Bribery Claims
By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has petitioned the police to investigate a viral video featuring NNPP leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
In the clip, the former governor makes shocking claims regarding the 2023 Kano governorship legal battle. He alleges that private meetings were held with Supreme Court justices to influence the final judicial outcome.
The controversy arose after Kwankwaso expressed bitterness over Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection to the APC. Kwankwaso suggested the Governor had forgotten the extreme, unofficial efforts made to secure his victory at the apex court. Legal experts have condemned these revelations as a direct assault on the independence and integrity of Nigeria’s highest court.
In the recording, Kwankwaso detailed clandestine visits that allegedly bypassed all standard judicial protocols. He claimed the governorship was secured through personal appeals made directly to the private residences of the justices. This admission has ignited a national debate over the susceptibility of the judiciary to the influence of powerful political elites.
The most damaging aspect of the report is the specific confession attributed to the NNPP leader. In the video, Kwankwaso reportedly stated, “He had forgotten that in 2019, I took him to the homes of all the supreme court judges in Nigeria to beg them. I and the governor met them in their villages and towns.” The NBA flagged this as a “denigrative revelation” that undermines the nation’s constitutional foundation.
Demanding a full criminal investigation, the NBA emphasized that such statements are “dangerous and corrosive to democracy.” The association argues that these claims either expose a deep-seated rot within the bench or constitute a malicious attempt to bring the court into public contempt. They maintain that accountability is essential regardless of the statement’s veracity.
While the Supreme Court has remained silent, retired Justice Musa Muhammad Dattijo has publicly distanced himself from the scandal. He asserted that he never met Kwankwaso or Governor Yusuf, stating his clarification was necessary to protect his reputation. He described the allegations as “condemnable shenanigans” by politicians seeking to manipulate the system.
