The forum of all the support groups of the progressive Congress has asked the president of the president of Nigeria to use his good offices and intervene in the management of a subsistent case before the court of the request of elections of the local government of the state of Benue.
Going on Thursday to journalists in Abuja, the general director of the forum, Dr. Ak Peters, expressed concern about the relocation of the Makurdi Court to the territory of the Federal Capital, Abuja.
Dr. Peters, who alleged bias by the main judge of the state of Benue, Judge Maurice Ikpambsese, said that the decision to relocate the court session was a ploy to undermine the dispensation of justice.
He said: “Today, the main judge of the state of Benue, Judge Maurice Ikpambe has clearly remained on the side of the dissolved executive to undermine the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. For us, it is unacceptable because there is a thick line between justice and injustice. The president of the Supreme Court of Nigeria should call the chief judge of Benue to order before it is too late.
“We have in good authority that the main judge of the State of Benue has relocated the Court of the Local Government of the State of Benue, the Makurdi Court to Abuja after granting a vacuum to the petitioners not to pay the security deposit as required by the law, citing difficulties on the ground.
“There is no section of the Constitution or the laws of the State of Benue that facing the main judge to grant Waver to the petitioners or transfer to a court of the local government of the state of jurisdiction to Abuja.
“The lawyers have begun to argue that any decision made by the Court in Abuja is null and null as a election made by the Independent Electoral Commission of the State can only be entertained in the State.
“Meanwhile, the main judge cited the security reason for his circular, he has been going to his office amid his alleged elimination of the Benue State Assembly Chamber without any security threat.
“The Government of the State of Benue, which is the financier of the Court, also issued a statement that insisted that the state government is not aware of the relocation and assured the public that it could provide adequate security for the court.
“The main judge, who acted ultra vires when he favored the petitioners whose request should be dismissed, also emphasized the difficulties in the earth in an attempted blacklapping of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while protected the petitioners. The main judge himself has relocated the entire State Court of Benue to Abuja even though he has no powers to do so.
“The question is between the relocation of the court, which means transporting and accommodating the lawyers and witnesses of Abuja and the security position that will be paid to the Court, which is more a burden for people.
“Now it is clear that there is an attempt to really undermine the national party leadership and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the main judge of the state of Benue who has abandoned justice for the trivial feeling.
“We make a great call to the national leadership of the party, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Gandje to immediately enter the pending danger and the threat to democracy in the state of Benue.
“We firmly observed that the main judge of the state of Benue is being used by the opposition not only to frustrate our government in the state of Benue, but also a direct attack on our kind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the general elections of 2027. Therefore, the leadership of our party and the presidency must take a position now before some antidemocratic forces and enemies of our party kidnap the weapon of the bad.
“We take advantage of the decision of the party and the confidence placed on Mr. President and our national president in the NEC who has just concluded from our party.
“Let us insist that Mr. President must save democracy as the decision of the National Work Committee and the National Executive Committee must be respected by all the faithful of the parties.”