• Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Business
  • Education
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
Facebook Twitter Instagram
The Meridian Spy
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Health
  • Business
  • Education
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Entertainment
The Meridian Spy
Home»Politics»Election petitions should be handled by retired Judges, says Falana
Politics

Election petitions should be handled by retired Judges, says Falana

meridianspyBy meridianspyJuly 19, 2019Updated:July 19, 2019No Comments2 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Share
    

 Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana says election petitions should be handled by retired Judges as serving judges are overburdened. 

Falana, in statement on Thursday, said serving judges now leave court cases of various magnitude while trying to comply with national assignments within their jurisdictions.

The human rights activists pointed out the adjournment of court cases by over 350 Judges of the State High Courts, Federal High Court, and National Industrial Court, for a ‘national assignment’ which was never within their jurisdiction.

Femi Falana calls for a review of preference given to election petitions and appeals, and further stated that such cases are not handled by regular courts in neighbouring countries but by constitutional courts. 

The statement reads: “Over 350 Judges drawn from State High Courts, Federal High Court, and National Industrial Court and handling election petitions have adjourned all matters pending in their courts’ sine die. Their Lordships and Ladyships are said to have left their jurisdictions for “national assignment” in other parts of the country.

“Apart from appeals arising from pre-election cases and election petitions, both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court are adjourning all pending appeals till 2020 and 2021. The vacation of the Justices of the Court of Appeal has been cancelled to enable them to handle election-related appeals.

“Since all litigants are equal before the law it is high time the preference given to election petitions and appeals by Nigerian courts was reviewed. In some neighbouring African countries, election petitions are not handled by regular courts but by constitutional courts.

“It is therefore suggested that the Constitution be amended to allow retired judges to handle election petitions and appeals arising from them. If our retired judges can handle arbitral matters and participate in judicial commissions of enquiry they should be saddled with the responsibility to handle election petitions and appeals arising from them.

“The injustice meted out to litigants whose cases are not political by the legal system should stop forthwith in the interest of justice”.

Share this:

  • WhatsApp
  • Tweet
Election petitions
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
meridianspy
  • Website

Related Posts

Kalu wants Buhari as APC BoT Chairmanship After May 29

March 29, 2023

Tinubu nominates Atiku Bagudu, Wale Edun in to Transition Council

March 29, 2023

Labour Party Slashes Gov Nomination Cost from N25m to 15m

March 29, 2023
Top Stories
  • Paystack co-founder Shola Akinlade buys Danish club, Aarhus Fremad March 29, 2023
  • (no title) March 29, 2023
  • Kalu wants Buhari as APC BoT Chairmanship After May 29 March 29, 2023
  • Visa Ban Threat: Fani-Kayode wants Recall of Llewellyn-Jones for interfering in Nigerian politics March 29, 2023
  • Tinubu nominates Atiku Bagudu, Wale Edun in to Transition Council March 29, 2023
  • Labour Party Slashes Gov Nomination Cost from N25m to 15m March 29, 2023
  • JUST IN: Finally, PDP sacks Ayu, appoints Damagum as Acting Chairman March 28, 2023
  • JUST IN: Imo lawmaker, Arthur Egwim Dies in Lagos after Surgery March 28, 2023
  • Davido parleys PUMA on New Fashion Collection March 28, 2023
  • AFCON qualifiers: Super Eagles Bounce back, revenge against Guinea-Bissau March 28, 2023
  • About us
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Politics
  • Health
© 2023 All Right Reserved. Designed by Techjuno

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.