Don’t meet us in secret, Ondo tribunal warns lawyers

The Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal had its inaugural sitting in Akure, on Thursday, warning lawyers and petitioners against attempts to meet the members of the panel in secret.

The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Rose Soji, said the panel received 14 petitions, stemming from the National Assembly and state House of Assembly elections held on February 25 and March 18, respectively.

She gave the assurance that the panel would be fair and unbiased to all the parties involved in the process, throughout the duration that the panel would be sitting.

Justice Soji said, “We crave the indulgence and cooperation of everyone so that we can finish on time. We received 14 petitions from both the National Assembly and state House of Assembly (elections matters).

“The election petition is time-bound. We will hear you and decide according to the law. We are not here for any party or petitioner. No lawyer or litigant should see us in private. We will not tolerate that, and we will finish well.

“We will not allow any private talk with members of the panel, everything should be made public.”

The judge also warned lawyers against dress code not authorised for appearance, emphasising that only black and navy blue wears would be allowed.

Smilarly, in Bayelsa State, the  Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Yenagoa warned litigants against seeking unnecessary adjournments, filing frivolous applications, and preliminary objections that are time-wasting and aimed at derailing justice.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice O. M. Fagbemi, gave the warning while delivering her inaugural address to formally commence proceedings on Thursday.

The judge said, “We seize this opportunity to admonish counsel and litigants to desist from seeking unnecessary, incessant adjournments and filing of frivolous applications and preliminary objections which are time-wasting, purely an academic exercise, an exercise in futility aimed at perverting the cause of justice.”