Tribunal Judge Reveals Bribery Attempt

Justice Flora Azinge, the chairperson of the National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Kano State, expressed her frustration over a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) attempting to offer her a bribe.

In a court session in Kano on Tuesday, before the proceedings began, the judge conveyed her dissatisfaction with the unethical behavior of some senior lawyers, particularly involving bribery attempts.

Although she did not reveal the identity of the specific senior lawyer, Justice Azinge mentioned that the said SAN had a case pending before her tribunal.

She said, “A Senior Advocate of Nigeria who has a pending case before me is attempting to bribe me. Money has been flying in this tribunal since yesterday. Whoever collects money on my behalf, God will punish that person and his generation yet unborn — to the fourth generation. They keep abusing judges, insulting us every day in the papers, in the media — that we are taking bribes.”

Justice Azinge further emphasized her stance, stating, “Let me repeat again that nobody should approach me with money again. I’m contented with what God has given me, and I have a roof over my head.”

Eyitayo Fatogun, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was present in court for another matter, sto

od up on behalf of all the lawyers present and encouraged the judge to report the incident to the appropriate authorities. He pointed out that he was aware of instances where judges who failed to report such occurrences were accused of judicial misconduct.