October 16, (THEWILL) – The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has directed the transfer of all election petition cases pending before the court in the 36 states to Abuja and Lagos divisions of the appellate court, a report by Leadership indicated on Monday.
THEWILL reports that the order affects only appeals filed against judgements of the 2023 gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections petition tribunals.
Consequently, political parties and their candidates having pending appeal cases have been directed to comply with the order by moving to either Lagos or Abuja to prosecute their cases.
While THEWILL observed conflicting judgements of election cases at the tribunal, the order for the centralisation of all appellate cases followed the alleged compromise by judges of the Election Petition Tribunal.
Political parties and candidates had alleged that the judges were heavily influenced by the Governors during the trial stage in their respective states.
The aggrieved parties and the candidates protested that various judgements pronounced by some of the tribunal judges were not only fraudulent but were “outrightly purchased” by the Governors in favour of their parties and candidates in the election.
According to Leadership, an investigation into the allegations informed the transfer of all appellate cases to Abuja and Lagos, where the judges could be effectively monitored by the President of the appellate court.
The media also added that some judges of the tribunals have been indicted and might face trial by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
