Why A’Court President, Justice Dongban-Mensem Ordered Transfer Of Election Cases To Abuja, Lagos

The directive by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban- Mensem, for the transfer of all election petition cases pending before the various divisions of the court to Abuja and Lagos was influenced by allegations of compromise against judges of the tribunals by some aggrieved political parties.

The decision followed petitions by some major political parties including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) and their candidates in the various elective positions.

The aggrieved petitioners specifically alleged that judges of the tribunals were induced and influenced by the affected sitting governors who doled out logistics and other comfortable materials to support their assignment.

A competent source at the court disclosed that Justice Dongban-Mensem who was not comfortable with the numerous petitions, decided to act to boost public confidence in the election tribunals.

Justice Dongban-Mensem believed the action would guarantee the independence and integrity of the judiciary, especially the appellate court.

“After a preliminary inquiry into the allegations, the President of the Court of Appeal thinks there is some element of truth in some of the allegations and the National Judicial Council may likely go after some of the judges involved,” the source disclosed.

The affected appeals are in respect of gubernatorial, national and state assemblies’ elections, which have the court of appeal as the last bus stop.