UPDATE: Ag. CJN swears-in chairmen, members of election petition tribunals

Less than 24 hours after he was sworn in as the acting Chief Justice of Nigerian (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed on Saturday, performed his first official duty when he swore-in Chairmen and members of the election petition tribunals for the 2019 general elections.

Justice Mohammed was sworn in on Friday as the acting CJN, by President Muhammadu Buhari following the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen on the strength of an ex-parte motion obtained from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Out of the 17 Justices of the Supreme Court, only Justice Sidi Bage was in attendance when the acting CJN, was swearing in the 250 members who would sit on the 2019 Election Panels inside the Chambers of the Supreme Court Headquarters in Abuja.

No reason was however given for the absence of the other justices of the apex court at the ceremony.

The Panels comprise National Assembly Election Petition Tribunals, Governorship Election Petition Tribunals, and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunals.

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Justice Mohammed charged members of the tribunals to abide by the oath of office they took, saying that: “The oath is a solemn appeal to the Almighty God.

“Therefore, it is from this oath that your duties and responsibilities as chairmen and members of the election petition tribunals in your various places of assignment spring forth and has a binding effect,” the acting CJN stated.

He charged members of the tribunals to discharge their duties diligently and with the fear of God.

According to the acting CJN, the nation’s judiciary is in the trying times and judicial officers must stand to protect and uphold the integrity of the judicial arm of government

He urged them to consider their appointment to serve on the election petition tribunals as a call to greater service to the nation.