Kogi Election Tribunal Makes Daring Move to Abuja Amidst Security Concerns
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has orchestrated a strategic relocation of the Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from its previous hub in Lokoja to the serene grounds of Abuja.
This decisive move, as disclosed by Mr David Umar Mike, the Secretary of the Tribunal, finds its new abode at the National Judicial Institute, nestled on Umar Yar’Adua Way.
While the official statement refrains from explicitly outlining the motivations behind this shift, an insider privy to the situation has revealed that security concerns prompted this geographical pivot.
The tribunal, stationed in Lokoja, has witnessed a series of alarming attacks on its personnel, compelling the need for a change in venue to ensure the safety of those involved in the legal proceedings.
Sources within the tribunal have disclosed harrowing incidents, with the most recent episode occurring just last Monday.
Tribunal officials were ambushed on their way to the office, falling prey to armed assailants who not only subjected them to a robbery but also confiscated vital documents essential to the proceedings.
Among the loot were copies of petitions, personal effects, official receipts, subpoenas, and official stamps.
The unremitting onslaught by unruly elements, colloquially referred to as ‘thugs,’ has created an atmosphere of fear and frustration, rendering the task at hand increasingly precarious.
It is against this backdrop of growing insecurity that the decision to shift the tribunal’s operations to the National Judicial Institute in Abuja has been made.
Litigants and stakeholders are urged to take heed of this significant change in venue, ensuring a seamless continuation of the legal processes without further compromise to the safety and well-being of tribunal officials.
In the aftermath of the recent off-cycle election on November 11, wherein the All Progressive Congress emerged victorious and the Social Democratic Party secured the second position, the tribunal’s relocation adds a layer of resilience to the pursuit of justice in the face of adversity.
As the legal proceedings resume in the capital city, the hope is that the move to Abuja will serve as a protective shield against the disruptive forces that have hitherto plagued the tribunal in Lokoja.
Source: Vanguard News
