…. plans to drag Justice Okungbowa before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for false assets declaration
By Efosa Osagie
A Nigerian professional body based in the diaspora known as the League of Esan Women Professionals in the Americas(LEWPA) has called out the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa for alleged political alliance with Godwin Obaseki, the immediate past Edo State Governor, with the aim of destabilising and frustrating the Justice sector policies of the APC-led government of Senator Monday Okpebholo.
According to LEWPA, this plan of Okungbowa was actuated with the financial support of Obaseki to impose a female from Edo South as the President of the recently re-established Edo State Customary Court of Appeal,so as to avoid been made to account for billions of naira meant for capital projects in the Edo State Judiciary.
In a press statement signed by its President, Dr.(Mrs) Queeneth Okosodo-Hart, the diaspora body further alleges that Okungbowa is the dramatis persona behind the present leadership vacuum of the Edo State Customary Court of Appeal geared at imposing his choice as President of the appellate Court. Hart blamed Okungbowa for corruption and tribalism, cultism within the Edo State Judiciary.
According to Dr. Hart, “Okungbowa
met with Godwin Obaseki in Europe sometime early September 2025 and undertook to frustrate all policies of the Okpebholo Administration that are justice sector related. She further alleges that after Okungbowa returned to Nigeria, he made good his promise to Obaseki when through a retired Edo Chief Judge from Edo North and one Justice Roland Amaize Rtd he mobilized some persons from Edo South to file an action at the Edo State High Court to challenge the appointment of an Acting President of the Edo State Customary Court of Appeal, because it will favour an eminently qualified female Judge from Edo Central.
Hart noted that against the call of neutrality, Okungbowa assigned the case challenging the appointment of the Acting President to one of his affiliates, Justice Momodu for a predetermined outcome. She alleges further, that in a process similar to the Lawrence Anini trial of the mid-80s, Momodu after two sittings adjourned the case for Judgment on the promptings of Okungbowa. What she said is a clear plot to stall the appointment of an Esan woman as the President of that court.”
Hart further noted that her organisation is in the process of presenting a petition to the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal against Okungbowa for his failure to declare his assets in the US, UK and the ones in Abuja Nigeria, including his event centre in Benin City, where she says he sells 18 and 21 years Glenfiddich whisky. She also noted that a similar petition will be written to the US and EU Embassies in Nigeria to prevent Okungbowa and all serving and retired judges of the State Judiciary involved in the ethnic gang up against an innocent female Judge whose only crime is where she comes from.
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