By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations CSOs on Monday converged on the Three Arms Zone, home to Nigeria’s three arms of government, demanding that President Bola Tinubu and the Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun immediately intervene in the crisis rocking the Benue State Judiciary.

The protesters who wielded several placards with various inscriptions bordering on the integrity of some judges, said “Nigeria’s democracy is in a clear danger and the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun must save it”.

Addressing journalists, Chief Convener of the coalition, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta said the court of law is supposed to be the arbiter of justice where the constitution is interpreted without bias, but that the reverse is the case.

He said; “The court in Nigeria has become more politicized than registered political parties.

“How on earth could a Chief Judge of a state flagrantly abuse his office by flouting the state laws and the National Judicial Council (NJC) is quiet? Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the Chief Judge of Benue State unilaterally granted a waiver to petitioners of Local Government Election Tribunal not to pay security deposit, a constitutional prerequisite for any valid petition and he is not been sanctioned.

“On the strength of the refusal of the NJC to punish him, he again violated the Electoral Laws of Benue State when he relocated the Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal to Abuja which is clearly off territorial jurisdiction in clear violation of the Benue State Electoral Law, yet the NJC is just watching.

“In an attempt to protect the constitution of Nigeria and the laws of Benue State, the Attorney General of Benue State approached the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi which granted an order restraining the Tribunal from sitting anywhere outside Benue State including the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) house Abuja. This order was granted on the 7th of March 2025 to the admiration of Nigerians.

“Surprisingly, on Friday 14th March 2025, an FCT High Court 34 presided by Justice M.M Adamu frivolously issued another other compelling the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal Tribunal to conduct sitting in Abuja and particularly at the NBA house.

“The question is, can the Benue State laws be applied in the FCT or any other state other than Benue State? If the answer is NO, it is also clear that the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal cannot sit outside Benue State.



https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/protest-rocks-abuja-over-benue-judicial-crisis/