Kano Guber: DSS Refutes Claims Of Detaining Tribunal Judge

The Department of State Services (DSS) has refuted a recent claim that they detained a judge from the tribunal overseeing the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kano State.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the rebuttal arises in response to allegations made by Sanusi Bature, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kano State.

Bature had alleged that the state government suspected the tribunal judges dealing with the Kano State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal were subjected to intimidation and detention by security authorities.

But DSS spokesperson, Dr. Peter Afunanya, dismissed the assertions made by the Governor’s press secretary while speaking with PRNigeria.

Afunanya clarified: “This is a very ridiculous statement. Arresting judges for what reason? It is not true, please.”

In a subsequent interview on Channels Television, Bature maintained his stance, stating, “It is unreasonable for the DSS to detain a judge without any cause. One of the judges who presided over the Kano judgement was detained, and I believe this constitutes intimidation.”

Bature further expressed uncertainties around the judgement process, stating that the location of the virtual judgement was unknown, and that the judges might have been under duress when delivering their verdict.

He also noted irregularities behind the scenes, expressing surprise that the declared winner was not included in the case. He referenced Gawuna, who accepted defeat in the election, congratulated Abba Kabir, and confirmed he would not pursue the matter in court.

Bature said, “there is no reason why the DSS can arrest a judge without any suspicion. The DSS arrested one of the judges that delivered the judgement in Kano and I believe that is intimidation.”

“Even this virtual judgement they delivered, we do not know where they delivered it from. Probably, they delivered the judgement under duress or whatever, I am not sure. We do not know the location from which they delivered the judgement and we do not know their condition because we could only see them on the screen.

“A lot of things happened behind the scene and to our surprise, the person who was declared winner was not even joined in the case. Gawuna contested in the election, accepted defeat, and he congratulated Abba Kabir and said that he is not going to court.”