PHOTOS: Protesters picket NJC HQ over Benue election tribunal controversy

Protesters picketed the national headquarters of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in Abuja on Monday. 

The demonstrators are opposing the relocation of the Benue state local government election petition tribunal to Abuja, calling it a “clear violation of territorial jurisdiction and Benue state electoral laws”.

Some of the placards brandished by the protesters read: “Save the Nigerian judiciary” and “Corrupt judges must be expunged from the system”.

Other placards had the following inscriptions: “Enough of procured court orders,” and “The time to sabe the Nigerian judiciary is now”.

On Friday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) secured an order from a federal capital territory high court, Abuja judicial division, for the relocation of the tribunal to the Nigerian capital.

Maurice Ikpembese, the chief judge of Benue state, had ordered the relocation of the tribunal from Makurdi to the Nigeria Bar Association House, Abuja over alleged insecurity.

Addressing journalists during the protest, Igwe Ude-Umanta, convener of the procession, accused Ikpambese of violating the electoral laws of Benue state by relocating the tribunal to Abuja.

He said the order by the Benue chief judge is “clearly off territorial jurisdiction in clear violation of the Benue state electoral law”.

“How on earth could a chief judge of a state fragrantly abuse his office by flaunting the state laws and the NJC is quiet?” Ude-Umanta asked.

“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.

“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 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 to conduct sitting in Abuja and particularly at the NBA house.

“We are here today to submit a petition against Justice Maurice Ikpambese and Justice M. M Adamu who by their actions have converted the title of justice to injustice.”

He called on Kudirat Kekereke-Ekun, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), to “expunge corrupt judges off the Nigerian judiciary in other to restore the integrity of the judiciary“.

Ude-Umanta also appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, to save the judiciary from being undermined.