'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has issued an interim order compelling the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal and the Benue State Appeals Tribunal to continue their sittings at the NBA House, Abuja. The court also restrained the relocation of the tribunals to Benue State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive motion on notice.
The ruling, delivered by Hon. Justice M. M. Adamu, followed an ex-parte motion filed by Mr. Augustine Agada, the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside Mr. Daniel Ihonmu, the State Publicity Secretary of APC, and the party itself. The claimants sought to prevent the movement of the tribunal from Abuja to Benue State, citing concerns about fairness and security.
Barrister Anderson Asemota, a lawyer with a strong track record in election-related cases, addressed journalists to share the outcome of a crucial court ruling. The court granted an order allowing the tribunal to continue its proceedings in Abuja, rather than relocating back to its original location.
The tribunal, tasked with hearing appeals related to the local government elections in Benue State, had been facing challenges that threatened to disrupt its proceedings. With less than 20 days left to conclude its work, the tribunal's ability to complete its task was at risk due to insecurity concerns in its home state.
Asemota emphasized that the court's decision was a victory for the petitioners, who had taken their grievances to the tribunal. He noted that the constitution guarantees the right to a fair hearing, and that the tribunal's proceedings were time-bound, with a strict 180-day deadline to complete its work.
In granting the claimants' requests, the court issued the following directives:
The 1st to 11th defendants/respondents, including the tribunal chairmen and members, must continue tribunal sittings in Abuja to hear and determine appeals or petitions arising from the Benue State Local Government elections held on October 5, 2024.
The 1st to 13th defendants/respondents, including the Chief Judge of Benue State and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, are restrained from relocating the tribunals from NBA House, Abuja, to any location in Benue State until the motion on notice is determined.
The Inspector General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force are directed to provide security cover for the tribunal members to facilitate their sittings in Abuja.
The lawyer explained that the court's ruling was designed to safeguard the petitioners' rights and ensure that the tribunal could complete its work without interruption. By allowing the tribunal to remain in Abuja, the court had provided a critical safeguard against potential disruptions and ensured that justice could be served.
In essence, Asemota said, the court's decision was a straightforward application of the constitution and the rule of law. By upholding the petitioners' rights and ensuring the tribunal's proceedings could continue uninterrupted, the court had demonstrated its commitment to justice and the democratic process.
The court has adjourned the case to April 29, 2025, for the hearing of the motion on notice. Until then, the tribunal must continue operating from Abuja under the protection of security agencies.
This ruling marks a significant development in the post-election legal battles in Benue State, as stakeholders await the next phase of the judicial proceedings.
