Protesters gathered at the National Judicial Council (NJC) headquarters in Abuja on Monday, opposing the relocation of the Benue State local government election petition tribunal to the nation’s capital.
The demonstrators described the move as a violation of territorial jurisdiction and Benue State electoral laws. Placards carried by the protesters included messages such as “Save the Nigerian judiciary” and
“Corrupt judges must be expunged from the system.”
Also Read: CUPP welcomes INEC’s release of Rivers voters’ register
The relocation followed an order from a Federal Capital Territory High Court, requested by the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing security concerns in Makurdi. Benue State’s Chief Judge, Maurice Ikpembese, had directed the tribunal to sit at the Nigerian Bar Association House in Abuja.
Convener of the protest, Igwe Ude-Umanta, accused Ikpembese of breaching Benue electoral laws and called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekereke-Ekun, to restore judicial integrity by addressing corruption in the judiciary. He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene.
Leave feedback about this
You must be logged in to post a comment.