Protest Erupts In Abuja Over Benue Judiciary Crisis

Demonstrators on Monday staged a peaceful protest from the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to the Supreme Court to express their grievances over the judiciary crisis in Benue State.

The protesters, comprising civil society organisations, human rights groups, and concerned citizens, displayed banners condemning the alleged hijack of the Benue Local Government Election Tribunal by certain politicians.

Local reports revealed that the protesters called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to intervene urgently in the crisis and remove corrupt judges from the Nigerian judiciary.

They also urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the crisis and ensure that justice is served.

“Today, we are here as concerned Nigerians who believe in the rule of law. Our democracy is in clear danger, and the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Eku, must save it,” the convener of the group, Igwe Ude-Umanta, told journalists.

“We also call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to fold his arm and watch the judiciary go down.

“The Benue situation is the worst at the moment because the petitioners did not even participate in any of the process of the election,” he added.

Recall that the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpembese, had earlier ordered the relocation of the tribunal from Makurdi to Nigeria Bar Association House, Abuja due to insecurity.

But the sitting of the panel, which should have started in Abuja on March 10, was put on hold due to a restraining order by a Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi.

The court directed that the election petition tribunal should hold in Benue State, against Justice Ikpembese’s ruling.

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress approached the FCT High Court in Abuja with a prayer that the panel be relocated to Abuja as earlier ordered by the Benue Chief Judge.

Granting the prayer on Friday, the court directed the tribunal to continue to conduct its sitting at the NBA House in Abuja.

Recall that the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpembese, had earlier ordered the relocation of the tribunal from Makurdi to Nigeria Bar Association House, Abuja due to insecurity.

But the sitting of the panel, which should have started in Abuja on March 10, was put on hold due to a restraining order by a Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi.

The court directed that the election petition tribunal should hold in Benue State, against Justice Ikpembese’s ruling.

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress approached the FCT High Court in Abuja with a prayer that the panel be relocated to Abuja as earlier ordered by the Benue Chief Judge.

Granting the prayer on Friday, the court directed the tribunal to continue to conduct its sitting at the NBA House in Abuja.