I recollect my virtual presentation to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner (UNOHCHR) for Human Rights in October 19, 2020 during the youth unrest in Nigeria tagged "End-SARS" protest. Many people asked why I asserted that the Nigerian youths were directing their fight to a wrong and innocent party, that the Nigerian Police is never the problem of Nigeria, rather the Policemen are equally victims of Nigerian state. The Nigerian Police was wrongly blamed.

I retorted that the judiciary has been the enabler of all atrocities committed by law enforcement agents and the officials of the Executive Arm of Government. It is the judiciary that is legally and constitutionally placed in a position to checkmate and review actions of all other arms as well as persons. Because the judiciary has surrendered its authority and integrity to dustbin of the state, and there are no consequences, that is why police brutality and other social malaises flourish in Nigeria. In fact, the ills of the Nigerian Judiciary are complex and multi-dimensional.

I was opportune to see the records of the case involving Pastor Umo Bassey Eno’s conviction by the Chief Magistrate Court, Abuja. The crux of the matter exposes a gargantuan proportion of subterfuge and perceived corruption in the FCT Judiciary, just like many other jurisdictions of Nigerian judiciary. The judiciary has positioned Nigeria in a state of international public ridicule and odium.

The story of the case of Pastor Umo Bassey Eno as found in the case record is shocking. The record speaks volume that the current Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno is alleged to have committed an offence of Cheating and Dishonestly inducing delivery of property against one Mr. Godwin Edet Etim, a former contract staff to Exxon Mobil Producing Nigeria Ltd attached to Royalty Hotels contracting service to Mobil, wherein the man forfeited wages belonging to the said Godwin Edet Etim. Despite all plea, he refused to release the money and when the said Mr. Godwin Edet Etim accosted him, he was detained by his guards in a private confinement for seven days. He also lost his daughter due to the ill-treatment by Mr. Umo Bassey Eno. Parts of the crimes extended to Abuja, thus leading to criminal summon against Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, his arraignment , trial and conviction pursuant to Section 325 of the Penal Code law.
An extensive trial was conducted by the Magistrate Court throughout the year 2022 until judgment was delivered on December 20, 2022 convicting Pastor Umo Eno for the alleged crimes based on the findings of the Court. The Court could not pronounce sentence due to absence of the Defendant in Court. The Court granted additional Order issuing Warrant of Arrest for sentencing. Upon service of the Warrant on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Umo Bassey Eno instructed his lawyers to file a Motion to set aside "Issuance of Warrant of Arrest".
On the 9th day of January, 2023, the legal team of Pastor Umo Eno filed a Motion on Notice to set aside Issuance of Warrant of Arrest and filed nothing more. That is to say, was no motion to set aside the judgment and the conviction of the Court.

On the 10th day of January 2023, the Court granted an Ex-parte Order for hearing of Motion on Notice to set aside Issuance of Warrant of Arrest and the said motion affidavit undertook that Mr. Umo Eno will appear in Court as the basis for the grant of that relief. The said Order of Substituted Service which slated a hearing date for January 13, 2023 was served on the Complainant lawyers (the law firm of Law Icons Solicitors & Notaries) same date of January 10, 2023. As the record demonstrates, the complainant filed a counter affidavit and a written submission opposing the Motion to Set Aside “Issuance of Warrant of Arrest” slated for hearing on January 13, 2023 as indicated in the Court Order of Substituted Service. Known that there was no defense to the crime allegedly committed, tried and convicted, in an obvious perfection of fraud against the judicial proceedings, when the Complainant’s lawyers arrived the Court on January 13, 2023, the matter was called from the Cause List. Neither Umo Eno’s lawyers nor the said Mr. Umo Eno made appearance in Court. As practice appeared to be, the Complainant’s lawyers urged the Court to deem Umo Eno’s application to set aside issuance of warrant of arrest abandoned and strike it out.


Source:

https://applesbite.com/the-judiciary-as-the-odium-of-nigeria-the-case-of-akwa-ibom-state-governor-pastor-umo-bassey-eno-as-one-out-of-many-ignominies-by-prof-cyprian-f-edward-ekpo/