Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the President of the Court of Appeal, has warned judges against being manipulated by politicians as they handle cases in Elections Petitions Tribunals.
Bulkachuwa handed down the warning at a three-day retreat organised for justices of the Court of Appeal and chairmen of Elections Petitions Tribunals in Abuja on Tuesday.
She said: “Tribunal judges should be seen to be impartial, independent and should not be subject to political influence or manipulation.
“Each tribunal member or staff will be closely monitored by my office and I will not hesitate to descend on any judge found wanting in the discharge of his/her duties.
“The Nigerian judiciary is now in the limelight and on trial.
“Let us discharge the responsibility reposed on us both individually and collectively by dispensing justice in accordance with the law.
“We should do this without fear or favour, and within the dictates of our conscience and oath of office.”
Former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umar Abdullahi, in a key note address, urged the tribunal judges to be transparent when they dispense justice.
Abdullahi said: “It is our attitude that will salvage the situation.
“So, we need to change our attitude.”
He allayed any fears of difficulty in handling election petitions and urged them not to be frightened as such.
Justice Ishaq Bello, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, in his remarks, urged the judges to be proactive in carrying out the task before them.
Bello said: “In whatever capacity we are involved, we must know that we are ambassadors of the Nigerian judiciary.”
Mintwab Tafesse of the Democratic Governance for Development Project of the United Nations Development Project, said the group renewed its partnership with the Court of Appeal to resolve election disputes.
Tafesse promised that the project would support Elections Petitions Tribunals on the challenges that might emanate from election petitions.
Afam Osigwe, who represented Augustine Alegeh, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, expressed optimism that the tribunals would give the judiciary the opportunity to prove that it was transparent in the dispensation of justice.
Osigwe said it was time for quick resolution of election petitions.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the retreat was organised in conjunction with the UNDP and Democratic Governance for Development in collaboration with the Court of Appeal.
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