Presidential election petitions tribunal led by the president of the court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has assured Nigerians and the International Community of Justice in all the petitions challenging the February 23 election.
The inaugural sitting held at the Abuja division of the court of Appeal. Justice Zainab leads a four-member panel from various divisions of the Appeal court. She pleads the support of stakeholders, litigants, lawyers, the press and members of the public to ensure the smooth running of the proceedings.
Delivering her speech shortly after leading the four other members of the panel into the courtroom at 10.50am, she bared analysis of the tribunal’s proceedings in the media. She assures that the court would work in accordance and within the dictates of the constitution, the law and international best practices to ensure justice is done.
She said, “The independence of the judiciary is key to any vibrant democracy, especially in the resolution of election petitions.
“Therefore, an independent judiciary is a robust and an indispensable requisite of a free society under the rule of law.
“As we gather in this honourable courtroom today, I wish to use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, that the Court of Appeal will work in accordance and within the dictates of the constitution, the law and international best practices, to dispense justice to all, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
“I would like to conclude with this quote by my lord, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, CFR, that ‘Politics is not anarchy, it is not disorderliness, it must be punctuated by justice, fairness and orderliness.’”
There are four petitions challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC at the polls.
The People’s Democratic Party amongst others filed the various petitions. There are 78 panels set to hear election proceedings throughout the federation.
She said Imo State, with 76 petitions out of the total 786 filed across the country, had the highest number of election petitions filed in the aftermath of the 2019 general elections.
She said no petition was filed in Jigawa State.
She warned lawyers, the media, litigants and members of the public from analysing the tribunal proceedings in the public.
She noted that the practice of analysing court proceedings and passing a verdict before the court pronounced its judgment in many high profile cases on the social and electronic media would not be condoned for the proceedings of the tribunal.
She warned that whoever contravened the directive would be sanctioned.
She warned that whoever contravened the directive would be sanctioned.
She said, “We assure all stakeholders that each litigant will be given equal opportunity to present his case in a mature manner before us.
“We are witnesses to what has been happening in high profile cases where such cases are being discussed and publicly decided prematurely in both the social and electronic media before the announcement of the verdict by the court.
“We pray that this time would be an exception for the benefit of the nation. We don’t expect counsel to any of the parties to hype the polity after any sitting by making a public analysis in the media as to what transpired in court.
“These proceedings should be treated as would any other low-profile case, where proceedings in court are not discussed publicly until a decision is pronounced by the court.
“This admonition is also extended to the parties, their respective counsel and the members of the press.
“We on our own part, will make relevant information available as at when due. “Any breach will not be condoned and we will not hesitate in taking necessary action against such offenders.”
Responding to this, the lawyers representing the PDP and Atiku, Buhari, the APC and the INEC promised to cooperate with the tribunal.
