Protesting youths, under the aegis of Kano State Civil Society and North-West Anti-Corruption Network, on Monday, marched to the Government House in Kano State demanding justice at the venue of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
This was coming hours after the Kano State Police Command announced a ban on protests by political parties and their supporters following mounting tension over alleged financial inducement some tribunal officials.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Usuani Gumel, announced the ban at a news conference in Kano while addressing newsmen at the command headquarters on Monday.
The Chairman, State and House of Representatives Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano, Justice Flora Azinge, had raised the alarm over an alleged attempt to obstruct the cause of justice with financial inducement.
Justice Azinge, who did not disclose the identity of the individual trying to bribe the panel, accused some senior lawyers arguing their petitions before the court of unwholesome moves to corrupt the system.
Gumel, therefore, warned supporters of the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria People’s Party to desist from all forms of protests without clearance from the police.
The commissioner also warned that the command would arrest and prosecute defaulters.
However, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that the protesters, who had earlier converged at Kofar-Nasarawa, marched through the city centre to the government house to present a letter containing their demands, which Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf received.
The leader of the coalition and Chairman of the Kano Civil Society Forum, Ibrahim Waiya, urged the state governor to forward the letter to President Bola Tinubu.
The coalition’s demands, among other things, include alleged moves by a senior lawyer to bribe the election tribunal judges in the state.
Receiving the protesters, the governor appreciated the peaceful manner of the protesters, assuring onward transmission of their letter to the President.
He also appreciated their doggedness and commitment to ensuring the sustenance of democracy in the country.
The governor also told the gathering that he was confident that the President would do justice to their complaint; particularly the issue of alleged bribe of judges to manipulate the outcome of election tribunal in Kano.
