Edo poll: Judge withdraws from suit against Ize-Iyamu

Justice Taiwo Taiwo has recused himself from a suit challenging the qualification of Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 19 governorship election in Edo.

Justice Taiwo, a judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, withdrew from the case on Thursday following a petition filed against him by one of the lawyers in the APC legal team.

The judge decried the attempt by a lawyer to call his integrity to question and maliciously tarnish his image.

“As Judges and lawyers in the temple of justice, it is our duty to protect the integrity of the court and that of the judiciary.

“It is disturbing to receive a petition from a party in the suit seeking for the transfer of the case; the contents of the said petition are wicked and unsubstantiated.

“It is very disturbing that counsel would write this petition and even back it with an affidavit,” he said.

According to the judge, it is not only coronavirus that has become a pandemic, the spate at which politicians write petitions against judges should be declared a pandemic and checked.

He said it was unfortunate that judges could not respond to petitions against them through the media.

He, however, maintained that he had no affiliation, personal or political with any of the parties in this case. Punch