• Appeal Court wants some election cases to be transferred to Lagos state and Abuja, due to recent developments in the polity
• Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, issued a directive to this effect, as judges are being accused of bribery and corruption
• The fresh order affects the election petitions on gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections conducted between February and March 2023

FCT, Abuja – Monica Dongban-Mensem, president of the court of appeal, has issued a fresh directive that will affect petitions regarding the 2023 election dispute.

The court directed that all appeals arising from the election petition cases across the country be transferred to the Abuja and Lagos divisions.

As reported by The Cable, the order affects the gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections, which are held between February 25, and March 18, 2023.

Although the appeals from the various state tribunals are supposed to be heard across the 20 appellate courts in the country, only two divisions of the court would preside over the election petitions, Leadership report added.

Why did the court order the transfer of cases to Lagos, Abuja

The Abuja division will handle appeals from 19 northern states while 17 southern states’ cases will be heard in Lagos.

The directive was issued following allegations and petitions against state tribunal judges.

Tension over deputy governor’s eligibility as Lagos Guber tribunal moves to Appeal Court

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported earlier that the ongoing election petition in Lagos is currently focused on Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat’s eligibility, sparking a significant debate about the complexities of citizenship, the oath of allegiance, and their impact on political candidacy.

This legal battle revolves around the Rhodes-Vivour petition against Governor Sanwolu, presented by Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour on behalf of the Labour Party.

At the Tribunal, it was argued that Dr Hamzat’s participation in the 2023 Governorship election was unconstitutional due to his declaration of allegiance to the United States.

“Public opinion cannot override constitution”, CJN Ariwoola tells new judges

Earlier, Legit.ng reported earlier that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola has stated that public opinion, no matter how weighty, cannot supersede the Constitution of the country which serves as a guide for judges in the discharge of their duties.

Justice Ariwoola stated this in Abuja during the swearing-in of twenty-three (23) newly appointed Judges of the Federal High Court.

He charged the newly sworn-in judicial officers to shun all forms of corruption, sentiments and ensure the application of constitutional provisions in adjudicating cases assigned to them at all times.

Source: Legit.ng