Agency Report –
The Benue Government says it is not aware of the alleged relocation of the state local government election petitions tribunals to Abuja.
Fidelis Mnyim, the Attorney General (A-G) and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Makurdi.
Mr Mnyim said that they woke with the rumours that the tribunals have been relocated to Abuja.
NAN reports that there are three panels handling LG election petitions tribunal representing the three senatorial districts of the state.
The attorney general told NAN that neither the governor nor his office received any correspondence notifying them of the decision to relocate the tribunals to Abuja.
He said that the state government ought to have been informed of the relocation and reasons for the decision.
The commissioner stated that the state government and all the respondents were unaware of what was really happening regarding the tribunals.
“The state government that finances the tribunals has to be informed of the decision to relocate the tribunals and the reasons for the relocation, but none of that happened.
“Even my office was not informed. We went to the court and discovered that nobody was there.
“Aside from being the A-G of the state, I am the counsel to the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC), so as a respondent, we retain the right to be informed of any decision of such nature,” he said.
Meanwhile, Governor Hyacinth Alia had on Tuesday banned protests and other activities within court premises with immediate effect.
The governor said only local government election petitions tribunal sittings would be allowed due to the time-sensitive nature of their assignments.
NAN reports that the state judiciary workers embarked on an industrial action on 6th December, 2024, to press for the full implementation of the new minimum wage.
When contacted, the Chief Registrar, Benue State High Court, Franca Yuwa, declined to speak to NAN.
A correspondent of the agency who visited the High Court premises venue of the tribunals’ sitting in Makurdi reports that only security operatives were on the ground and a few judiciary staff.
A staff member who pleaded anonymity told NAN that the panels were relocated to Abuja on Tuesday night.
