Kogi Guber : Election Petition Tribunal relocates to Abuja
…as Police investigates attack on Tribunal Secretary, others
By Idris Ahmed
The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban – Mensen, has ordered immediate relocation of the Kogi state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal from Lokoja to Abuja.
A statement by David Umar Mike, Secretary of the Tribunal, said that its sittings would now be at the National Judicial Institute on Umar Yar’Adua Way, Abuja.
Though no reason was given for the relocation of the tribunal sitting, the statement urged litigants to take note of the change in venue.
A source at the tribunal said relocation of sitting is not unconnected to “security reasons,” bearing in mind the recent alleged attack on its officials in Lokoja, by unknown gunmen”.
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According to the source, members of staff of the tribunal had been attacked on several occasions, while vital records including files, and petitions by political parties were said to have been snatched by suspected hoodlums in Loloja.
“Just last Monday, tribunal officials were attacked on the way to the office as armed men just pounced on the officials. They robbed them of everything. They took away all the documents that were in the car.
“Copies of petitions and personal belongings, official receipts, processes like subpoena, official stamps, were all stolen.
“Generally, thugs are frustrating the job and the lives of our officials are at stake, making it difficult to work there,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Kogi State Police Command has confirmed it has received complain from the Secretary of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, who was allegedly attacked by unknown gun men in Lokoja on his way to the High Court complex, venue of the tribunal sitting.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Aya, in a press release stated that “On Monday 04/12/2023 at about 1820hrs one Mr David Umar Mike ‘m’ Secretary to Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal along with Labode Apreala (f) Confidential Secretary and Hassimu Adamu Assistant Secretary, came to State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Headquarters and reported that on the said date three of them left their Hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs heading to their Office at the High Court Complex driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 Car.
“That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him, blocked his car with two other SUVS following behind. All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse.
” That he saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the documents including Petitions filed by four (4) Parties namely Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP)/two (2) Record Books/a Bag containing his personal items.
” He claimed to have also reported to the DSS Office. Hence a thorough and diligent investigation into the incident has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command”.
The Kogi State Police Command said its attention has been drawn to series of distorted information regarding the incident hence the need to set the records straight.
The PPRO therefore, advice the general public to avoid statements that may prejudice the ongoing investigation into the matter.
While the Police also appeals to anyone with useful information on the alleged incident to provide same to Command , the public will be updated as investigation progresses.
