Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
A Federal Capital Territory, High Court, sitting in Abuja, has ordered the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal to continue sitting in Abuja, restraining it from relocating to Makurdi Benue State capital.
The LG Election and Appeal Election Tribunals had relocated last week to Abuja and was scheduled to commence sitting on Monday 10th March, 2024.
However, a federal high court, sitting in Makurdi, gave a restraining injunction ordering the tribunals to return and sit in Makurdi.
Meanwhile, Justice M. M Adamu issued the interim order following an exparte motion brought before the court by Anderson U. Asemota Esq counsel.
The court ordered the chairmen of zone A, B and C Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal to continue to conduct sittings and hold proceedings of the State Election Tribunal and the State LG Appeal Tribunal at the Nigeria Bar Association, (NBA) pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with this application.
Justice Adamu also said an interim order is given restraining the Ist to 13th December respondents, which include all Chairmen of the Tribunal, members, chairmen of the Appeal Tribunal and their members as well as the Chief Judge of the State and Chief Justice of the Federation from relocating the Benue State LG Election Tribunal and the State Appeal Tribunal sitting at the NBA House, Abuja, FCT or any other venue within the territorial or geographical delineation of the FCT, Abuja to Benue State for the purpose of hearing and determining appeals or petition arising from the Benue State LG election held on 5th March, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The court further directed the 16th to 17th Respondents (the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force) whether directly by themselves or indirectly through their officers, agents, priciest, representatives, attorneys howsoever called, persons acting under their instructions or control or officers to provide security cover to the 1st to 11th defendants/respondents aimed and tailored at facilitating the sitting of the Benue State LG Election and Appeal Tribunal within the geographical territory of FCT, Abuja pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with the application.
Meantime, Justice Adamu has adjourned the matter to April, 25, 2025, for hearing of the motion on notice.
The issue of insecurity is at the center of the back and forth movement of the Tribunals.
