The Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice .A. Ikpambese has assured that venues of Benue state Local Government election Petition Tribunal are safe and secured.
He asked the public, Nigerian Bar Association,litigants, lawyers, tribunal Judges and staff to disregard purportedly letters calling for the suspension of the sitting of the tribunal.
The Chief judge said the venues of the state Local Government election Petition Tribunal are safe and secured as security measures have been put in place “after the event that took place on 19″ day of February, 2025 whereby the sitting of the Local Government election Petition Tribunal were disrupted by Thugs.”
A letter dated February 24, signed by Chief Registrar, Franca N. Yuwa, Esq.addressed to Nigerian Bar Association, clarified the position following safety concerns raised by lawyers.
“His Lordship has reported the matter to the Assistant Inspector general of police (AIG) zone 4 Makurdi who has taken over the security of the High Court of Justice.”
“Therefore the security and safety of the tribunal Judges, Staff, Lawyers and the General public are secured and the sitting of the Election Petition Tribunal continues at their respective venues.
“Consequently, any letter purportedly written by anyone calling for the suspension of the tribunal sitting should be disregarded.”
Senior lawyers representing Respondents, that is the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunals sitting across the three senatorial zones of the state, have raised concerns over their safety and clients during sitting of the tribunals.
Respondents lawyers in Zones A, B and C, Matthew Burkaa, SAN;
Mohammed Ndarani, SAN and Sunday Ameh, SAN, respectively had in their letters to the Chairman of each of the Tribunal, called for the suspension of the sitting until their doubts over the security concerns were cleared.
They expressed their concerns in their letters titled “Re: Notice of Tribunal Sitting on Monday 24th February, 2025 and Our Security Concerns.”
In response, the Chief judge assured the lawyers, staff of the tribunals and members of the public of their safety adding that security of the various tribunals have been taken over by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), of Police, Zone 4, Makurdi.