Benue Judiciary Crisis: Massive Protest Rocks Abuja

… as Coalition petitions NJC, demands Tinubu, Kekere-Edun’s urgent interventions

By Tom Okpe

As the Benue Judicial crisis rages, massive protest erupted in Abuja, the Federal Capital City on Monday, calling for immediate intervention, to end the crisis.

Convener of the protests, Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria at the protest tagged: ‘Save the Nigerian Judiciary Rally’ in Abuja on Monday, under the platform of concerned Nigerians who believes in rule of law also, petitioned the Nigeria Judicial Council, NJC, demanding immediate interventions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Edun.

According to the Chief Convener, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, while speaking with journalists, noted that the strength of every democracy is the judiciary. The court of law is supposed to be the arbiter of justice where the constitution is interpreted without bias, saying; “today, the reverse is the case.

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“The court in Nigeria has become more politicised than registered political parties.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to fold his arm as the judiciary is been bastardised on daily bases. Mr President sir, the Benue situation is the worst at the moment because, the petitioners did not even participate in any of the process of the election.”

Ude-Uwanta further stressed: “Today we are here as concerned Nigerians, who believes in rule of law. Our democracy is in a clear danger and the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Edun must save it.

“How on earth could a Chief Judge of a State, fragrantly abuse his office by flaunting the State laws and the NJC is quiet? Justice Maurice Ikpambese, the Chief Judge of Benue State unilaterally granted a waver to petitioners of Local Government Election Tribunal not to pay security deposit, a constitutional prerequisite for any valid petition and he is not been sanctioned.

“On the strength of the refusal of the NJC to punish him, he again, violated the Electoral Laws of Benue State when he relocated the Local Government Elections Petition Tribunal to Abuja which is clearly off territorial jurisdiction in clear violation of the Benue State Electoral Law, yet the NJC is just watching.

“In an attempt to protect the constitution of Nigeria and the laws of Benue State, the Attorney General of Benue State approached the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi which granted an order, restraining the Tribunal from sitting anywhere outside the State, including the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, House, Abuja. This order was granted on the 7th of March 2025 to the admiration of Nigerians.”

The convener said the coalition only came, to
submit a petition against Justice Maurice Ikpambese and Justice M. M Adamu who by their actions, have converted the title of justice to injustice.

“The burden behooves on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Edun to expunge corrupt judges off the Nigerian judiciary in other to restore integrity of the judiciary.

“As part of its recommendations, the panel held that politicians should generally avoid undue influence on the judiciary and be more accommodating of each other in the interest of their people.

“Today, we have it in good authority that some powerful Benue politicians based in Abuja have concluded plans with top police officers to arrest and detain protesters against the illegal relocation of the Benue State Local Government Election Tribunal to Abuja which is a clear violation of the Electoral laws of Benue State.

“Last week, military show of force was paraded around peaceful protesters at the NBA House, venue of the illegal Local Government Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

“We however, commend the professional conduct of the FCT Commissioner of Police, who was there in person and prevented intimidation, ensuring orderliness of police officers.

“We demand urgent intervention of Hon Justice Kekere-Edun, Mr President, and we demand that NJC call its members involved in the ongoing crisis to order, in the interest of peace and justice in Benue State.”