The power play between the Benue State Government and the State Chief Judge took a dramatic twist on Monday as protesters stormed the Federal Capital Territory to express dissafection over relocation of the Benue State Local Government Elections Petition to Abuja.
Convener, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, who led the protest tagged, #Save the Nigerian Judiciary Rally, expressed concern over what he called the politicisation of the Nigerian Judiciary.
He alleged that Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the Chief Judge of Benue State erred in relocating the Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal to Abuja which he noted was “clearly off territorial jurisdiction in clear violation of the Benue State Electoral Law.”
The Forum also alleged that Justice Ikpambese, unilaterally granted a waver to petitioners of Local Government Election Tribunal not to pay security deposit, a constitutional prerequisite for any valid petition.
Comrade Ude-Umanta, asked the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the National Judicial Council (NJC) not to be quiet but take more than passing interest in crisis of confidence in Benue State Judiciary.
He said: “In an attempt to protect the constitution of Nigeria and the laws of Benue State, the Attorney General of Benue State approached the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi which granted an order restraining the Tribunal from sitting anywhere outside Benue State including the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) house Abuja. This order was granted on the 7th of March 2025 to the admiration of Nigerians.
“Surprisingly, on Friday 14th March 2025, an FCT High Court 34 presided by Justice M.M Adamu frivolously issued another other compelling the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal Tribunal to conduct sitting in Abuja and particularly at the NBA house.
“The question is, can the Benue State laws be apply in the FCT or any other state other than Benue State? if the answer is NO, it is also clear that the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal can not sit outside Benue State.
“Justice M.M Adamu is a sabotage in the judiciary who has abandoned his oaths of office. Therefore, he is no longer fit to be a judge anywherein in the world. There is no justice near M.M Adamu for granting an order of Court, on an order of court against the Electoral laws of Benue State.
“We are here today to submit a petition against Justice Maurice Ikpambese and Justice M. M Adamu who by their actions have converted the title of justice to injustice.
“The burden behoves on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekereke-Ekum to expunge corrupt judges off the Nigerian judiciary in other to restore the integrity of the judiciary.
“Honourable CJN Ma, under your watch, the Supreme Court descended into live issues in Rivers State and decided a case that is not before it when it held that, Matthew Ameaweh is the Speaker of the House of Assembly while the case is still pending in the High Court and Appeal Court respectively.
“The judgment of the Supreme Court has been criticized by the 11- Man Independent Judicial Accountability panel headed by a retired Justice Mojeed Omoade.
“As part of its recommendations, the panel held that “politicians should generally avoid undue influence on the judiciary and be more accommodating of each other in the interest of their people.”
It also urged the government at all levels to obey court orders and respect the fundamental rights of citizens in a democracy, decrying that over nine months after the ECOWAS Court awarded damages to victims of the October 2020 End SARS protest, the Federal Government had yet to comply with the judgment.
“Today, we have it in good authority that some powerful Benue politicians based in Abuja have concluded plans with some top police officers to arrest and detain protesters against the illegal relocation of the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal to Abuja which is a clear violation of the Electoral laws of Benue State.
“Last week, military show of force was paraded around peaceful protesters at the NBA House, the venue of the illegal local government Tribunal sitting in Abuja. We, however commend the professional conduct of the FCT Commissioner of Police who was there in person and prevented intimidation and ensure the orderliness of police officers.
“Let it be on record that we have written the Police and the DSS to provide security for this peaceful rally. The aim is to adhere to the principle of justice, equity and fairness.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu not to fold his arm as the judiciary is been bastardised on daily bases. Mr President sir, the Benue situation is the worst at the moment because, the petitioners did not even participate in any of the process of the election.
“The petitioners ordinarily have no locus to approach the Tribunal because the Austin Agada led APC executive was desolved and a Caretaker Committee inaugurated before the Justice Theresa Igoche’s order restraining the National Working Committee of the APC from dissolving the Benue State Executive, was served.
“We demand urgent intervention of Hon. Justice Kekere-ekun, we demand intervention of Mr. President and we demand that NJC called its members involved in the ongoing crisis to order in the interest of peace and justice in Benue State.”
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