The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna has warned that it would not entertain unnecessary delay as the petitions would be treated with utmost urgency and dispatch.
The tribunal, which has 18 petitions before it, further warned counsels to the petitioners and defendants to avoid request for unnecessary adjournment, adding that it would do more than frown at such illegal attempt to slow down the course of justice.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice A.H. Suleiman, said the tribunal is a product of the supreme law of the country, 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Also, he said the tribunal draws its powers from “Section 285(1) & (2) of the said constitution which provides for the establishment of one or more election tribunals to be known as the National Assembly and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal.
“The tribunal shall to the exclusion of any other court or tribunal have original jurisdiction to hear and determine petitions as whether any person has been validly elected as a member of National Assembly; or any person has been validly elected as a member of the House of Assembly of a state.
“At the moment, 18 petitions have been filed, 10 of which are in respect of the National Assembly elections, while eight are of the Kaduna State House of Assembly elections.
“Election petitions by their nature are sui generis; i.e. in a class of its own. It is, therefore, obvious that time is of essence. In this regard, we request the cooperation of all, especially the legal practitioners having petition(s) to prosecute or defend before the Tribunal. Counsel should therefore endeavour to remain committed and be up and doing.
“The tribunal will not entertain unnecessary delay as the petitions will be treated with utmost urgency and dispatch, counsel are further reminded to avoid the request for unnecessary adjournment.
“On our part as judicial officers, we are under an oath to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. The Tribunal will afford all parties adequate and equal opportunity within the ambit of the law to present their cases to the best of their ability for adjudication.
“Let it be stressed at this juncture that parties and Counsel are forewarned to desist from engaging in any untoward act that may stifle the administration of justice. In this regard, any attempt to influence the Tribunal, in any way or mode, should be totally avoided as such attempt shall be severely dealt with according to the law,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna-central senatorial district has expressed hope that justice would be done to the petitions he filed before the court.
Speaking Thursday when the tribunal began sitting in Kaduna, the Senator said part of the reasons the petition was filed was to seek justice and provide evidences where necessary to prove his case.
Speaking through his counsel Barrister Kefas Kure, Sani said: “We expect to get justice at the end of the case. It is equally glorifying to note that the judges have requested the cooperation of all legal practitioners to remain committed and up doing during the sitting.”
Sani also expressed satisfaction that the tribunal judges said they will not entertain unnecessary delay as petitions would be treated with urgency and dispatch.
