Judges of election tribunals posted as Court of Appeal trains secretaries

The 250 members of the Election Petitions Tribunals have been posted to their respective states of assignment as the adjudications in grievances from the 2019 general elections begin. President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, last week told the judges that “by the end of this week, we will all be in […]

The 250 members of the Election Petitions Tribunals have been posted to their respective states of assignment as the adjudications in grievances from the 2019 general elections begin.

President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, last week told the judges that “by the end of this week, we will all be in our various states for the tribunals and the appeals that will follow suit by the aggrieved parties.”

She added that “I need not remind you that the assignment ahead of you is enormous and due diligence and professionalism is expected from each and everyone of you.”

She had also warned them not to be driven by emotions and sentiments in the discharge of their duties in the states they are assigned.

Justice Bulkachuwa harped on adherence to the code of conduct for judicial officers, warning that the judges would be closely monitored in the course of their work.

“Like I have said before, each and every one of you will be closely monitored by my office and I will not hesitate to descend on any judge found wanting in the discharge of his or her duty,” she said.

“By the end of this induction training, you will all be abreast with what is expected of you and I am sure by the time you resume your duty posts you will be ready to carry out the tasks assiduously.”

Also, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammed, last week charged the outstanding 13 judges of the election petitions tribunal to be of good character and endeavour to live above board, as all eyes are on them with a view to seeing them dispense justice without a tinge of partiality or favouritism.

Justice Muhammad admonished the new tribunal members to guard their jobs jealously, explaining that they were “thoroughly examined and later fished out from the numerous judges in the country who are equally eminently qualified for this task.”

The list has: Justices A.O. Onovo, R.O. Odugu, S.B. Belgore, T.A.O. Oyekan-Abullai, A.J. Coker, and E.I. Oritsejafor. Others are Justices M.C. Okoh, O.S. Olusanya, C.A. Ononeze-Madu, P.U. Nnodum and J.C.L. Okibe. Two members: Justices I.O. Kasali and M.O. Obadina could not attend the event.

As part of the wrap of the various training programmes for the election tribunal members, the Court of Appeal on Friday also organized a training for secretaries of election petitions tribunals.

At the opening session, Justice Bulkachuwa threatened to deal with any of the secretary found wanting in their duties of supporting the work of the tribunals.

The PCA said the objectives of the training were to expose the participants to relevant skills to carry out their duties to the tribunals and to share experiences with colleagues.

She added that the secretaries would be exposed to the Electoral Act, Practice Direction and Ethics of Tribunal Secretaries.