A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has ordered the relocation of the Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Tribunal to Abuja.
The ruling was delivered by Justice M.M. Adamu following an ex parte motion filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), through its counsel, Anderson Asemota, on March 11, 2025. The APC, represented by its Benue State Chairman, Augustine Agada, and Publicity Secretary, Daniel Ihomun, sought the relocation of the tribunal due to security concerns.
The defendants in the case include the Chairmen of the Benue State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal for Zones A, B, and C—Justices Ityouyimen, D.E. Igoh, and M.M. Odinya—alongside 15 others.
Previously, the Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpembese, had ordered the relocation of the tribunal from Makurdi to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) House in Abuja, citing security risks. However, the tribunal’s proceedings, scheduled to commence in Abuja on March 10, were halted by a restraining order from the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, which ruled that the tribunal should sit in Benue State.
In response, the APC approached the FCT High Court, praying for the enforcement of the initial ruling by the Benue Chief Judge.
Granting the request, Justice Adamu directed that the tribunal resume its sittings at the NBA House in Abuja and restrained it from holding sessions in Benue State.
The case has been adjourned to April 29, 2025, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice.
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