The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has sworn in members of the Election Petition Tribunal for the 2023 general elections.
The newly sworn in 277 judicial officers in one voice promised to carry out the assignment of adjudicating over matters that will arise from the general elections without fear or favour.
The swearing in ceremony which took place at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja kicked off a four-day Capacity Building Workshop for the justices of the Court of Appeal and members of the election Tribunals.
Shortly after the swearing in, Justice Ariwoola urged the judicial officers not to treat their assignments with levity, warning that he will not tolerate any form of judicial recklessness.
In the same vein, President of the Appeal Court, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem admonished members of the Tribunal to be firm and law-abiding in the discharge of their duties.
Justice Dongban-Mensem further emphasized that by the nature of the assignment given to the election tribunal members that they will be exposed to temptations but she advised them to be in total control of their thoughts.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu who attended the event applauded the collaboration between the judiciary and the commission.
He used the opportunity to ask the judicial officers to address the issue of conflict of judgements from court of coordinate jurisdictions especially in election matters.
In order to forestall conflicting rulings by the Tribunals, the Appeal Court has compiled a case management system, a document that will serve as an additional guide to the members.
