CJ charges LG election tribunal on justice to all parties in Benue

The Chief Judge of Benue , Justice Iorhemen Hwande, on Thursday urged members of the state Local  Government Election Petitions Tribunal to ensure that justice was done to all.
Hwande made this known while inaugurating members of the tribunal in Makurdi.
He said the tribunal would hear and determine all disputes that arose from the conduct of the Nov. 2012 council poll in the state.
The chief judge urged all the members to keep to their oath to do justice to all who would appear before them ``without favour or ill will to any person’’.
``You are to decide every petition brought before you on its merit.
``Where you are convinced that the peoples’ will had been subverted from the evidence before you, it will be right for you to restore the peoples’ mandate.
``Similarly, where a petitioner is crying wolf where you have not seen any, you have to tell him in clear terms, giving your reasons in writing,” Hwande said.
He said that tribunal registries had been opened at the three senatorial districts in the state and called on aggrieved parties wishing to challenge the result to file their petitions.
Hwande said that members of the tribunal and lawyers appearing before them ``should be guided by the Practice Direction I issued in 2008’’.
He then urged non-lawyers on the tribunal to base their judgment on the facts before them, adding that they were not on the panel merely to complete the number.
``You are expected to form your opinion and express it articulately during the conference that would be held on each petition,” he stressed.
He enjoined them to handle their assignment with utmost seriousness, bearing in mind its sensitivity as it determined the stability of the state.
He warned members of the public to desist from writing frivolous petitions against members where there was no basis for such.
Hwande further advised that aggrieved persons should use the channels provided by the law to seek redress where they were not satisfied.
Earlier, the members promised on oath that they would eschew corruption and protect the constitution in the discharge of their duties.
The Chief Registrar, Mr Edwin Arri, said in an interview that the duration of the tribunal was 180-days.
Council Watchreports that an Appeal Tribunal was also constituted to hear and determine all appeals arising from the decisions of the low tribunal.
Council Watch also reports that the panel, which would be sitting in Katsina-Ala, Makurdi and Otukpo, comprises High Court judges, top judiciary officers and journalists.