A seasoned legal practitioner, Barrister Daniel Makolo, has taken a bold step in the defense of the rule of law by petitioning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Attorney General of the Federation, and the leadership of the National Assembly, demanding the enforcement of a standing court judgment that prohibits Senator Godswill Akpabio from presiding as Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the letter, which has since gone viral, Makolo cited a subsisting Federal High Court ruling which declared Akpabio’s position as Senate President illegal, due to alleged constitutional breaches and legal technicalities surrounding his nomination and election.
The legal expert warned that the continued defiance of the court judgment poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy, undermines judicial authority, and erodes public confidence in constitutional governance.
I am calling on the President, the National Security Adviser, and the appropriate legal and security authorities to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary. The rule of law is the bedrock of any democracy,” Makolo stated in his submission.According to him, the judgment, which has not been vacated or appealed successfully, remains binding and enforceable under Nigerian law.
He warned that failure to act may plunge the country into a constitutional crisis and send the wrong message that court orders can be ignored with impunity by high-ranking government officials.He further appealed to civil society, the international community, and legal bodies to rise in defense of Nigeria’s judiciary and democratic principles.Background:
Senator Godswill Akpabio emerged as Senate President in June 2023 amid controversy. Critics argue that his election violated zoning arrangements, ignored internal Senate rules, and allegedly contravened existing legal orders.
The Federal High Court ruling in question, delivered in late 2023, questioned the legitimacy of Akpabio’s senatorial candidacy and, by extension, his eligibility to hold the office of Senate President.Despite the ruling, Akpabio continues to preside over the Senate — a situation Makolo calls “an affront to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
This development is already generating heated debates across political and legal circles, with many wondering whether the rule of law still holds sway in the nation’s corridors of power.
For full story and documents attached to Makolo’s petition, visit 👉🏾 www.fronnaija.com.
