Oyo State Judge Accused of Judicial Misconduct in PDP Convention Case
Three prominent members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have formally petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Honourable Justice A.L. Akintola of the Oyo State High Court. The petitioners, who belong to the Wike faction within the party, have raised serious allegations of judicial impropriety against the judge.
The Petition and Its Allegations
The petition, officially dated November 5, 2025, was received and acknowledged by the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on November 6, 2025. The complainants include Hon. Austine Nwachukwu, the embattled PDP chairman from Imo State, Hon. Amah Abraham Nnanna, his counterpart from Abia State, and Turnah Alabh George, who was notably absent during the media briefing where the petition was announced.
The core of their complaint centers on an ex parte order issued by Justice Akintola on November 4, 2025. This order authorized the PDP to conduct its National Convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025. The petitioners argue that this decision directly contradicts an existing judgment from the Federal High Court in Abuja, delivered on October 31, 2025 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025, which had explicitly prohibited the party from holding the convention on those specific dates.
Legal Violations and Broader Implications
The PDP stakeholders have accused Justice Akintola of what they term judicial recklessness, impunity, and flagrant violation of established legal processes. They contend that by issuing this ruling, the judge effectively attempted to sit on appeal over a judgment delivered by a court of coordinate jurisdiction, representing a serious breach of judicial protocol.
During the media briefing, Hon. Austine Nwachukwu expressed grave concerns about the potential consequences of this development. This disturbing development not only threatens the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary but also risks setting a dangerous precedent capable of eroding public confidence in the justice system, he stated emphatically.
The petitioners have called upon the NJC to take swift and decisive action, warning that failure to address this matter promptly could encourage other judicial officers to disregard due process. They specifically referenced the NJC's previous prompt interventions in similar cases of judicial misconduct in Rivers, Imo, and other states, urging the council to maintain consistent standards.
Nwachukwu further emphasized that The Nigerian judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man and not a tool in the hands of those seeking to subvert justice for political expediency. He stressed that the NJC's transparent and timely response to this petition would be crucial in restoring public faith in the judicial system and reinforcing the principle that no individual, regardless of position, is above the law.
