Allow South-East tribunals deliver judgment via Zoom, coalition begs CJN
Allow South-East tribunals deliver judgment via Zoom, coalition begs CJN
The National Coalition Against Terrorism, on Monday, urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to allow election petition tribunals in the South East to deliver their judgments electronically.
The nation’s anti-terror group hinged their appeal on the rise of violence, killings and secessionist agenda being perpetrated by the Indigenous People of Biafra, a separatist movement in the region.
The admonition is also coming two days after IPOB banned the people of the South-East from celebrating the nation’s Independence Day anniversary, warning that “Anyone seen celebrating the Nigerian flag Independence in Biafra land will regret his or her life.”
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the National Coordinator of the National Coalition Against Terrorism, Terrence Kuanum, begged Ariwoola to borrow a leaf from the success of Kano and Kaduna judgments which were held with the aid of Zoom technology to ensure the safety of tribunal justices.
Kuanum explained that they are more worried about the Abia State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting which will be taking place in the alleged zone of certain IPOB leaders.
He said, “We are all aware of several threats to lives and property in the South-East over the activities of IPOB and the unknown gunmen which has resulted in so many loss of life and properties.
“In the last 10 years, we have witnessed massive destruction of police stations; our police personnel no longer go to work because their lives are consistently under threat and our prison facilities have not also been spared by the activities of these terrorists. Markets have been on several times closed in the South-East at the directive of these terrorist groups.
“We, therefore, request that the Chief Judge of the Federation immediately directs all tribunal judgments in the South-East to deliver their judgments through electronic means to save the judges involved in this patriotic assignment from coming under threat or even losing their lives.
“Further risking the life of these judges will bring their rulings in disrepute knowing full well that they are under threat and might have delivered their judgment under duress to save their lives.”
