A Civil Society Organisation under the aegis of Arewa Youths Alliance For Progress and Development has called on National Judicial Council (NJC), to relocate all election appeal cases in Kano, Delta and other states to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in order to douse the political tension in the states.

The group said this was due to the concerns raised by the residents of the two states and others over rising political tension.

The Convener of the group, Ambassador Umar Babayaro stated this at a press conference on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him “We must understand that our Justices are not spirits and they don’t have bulletproof heads or bodies and at any point that they are threatened, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to protect them. If there is a threat to their lives in any state of the Federation, our call to the NJC is to quickly relocate them to a conducive environment where they will dispense justice without fear or favour because it is he who is alive that can deliver judgment.

” We believe as a group that our Justices must be protected at all cost and the sanctity of the judiciary must be upheld at all times. We also know that the best way to do this is through the protection of esteemed wigs of the judiciary.

“In the same vein, on the 29th of September, 2023, Nigerian youths across political parties under the aegis of Stand Up Nigeria have condemned the reported intimidation of members of the Kano state Governorship Election Tribunal, urging the National Judicial Council NJC to immediately relocate the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal to Abuja.

” We must understand that our Justices are not spirits and they don’t have bulletproof heads or bodies and at any point that they are threatened, it is the responsibility of the Nigerian government to protect them. If there is a threat to their lives in any state of the Federation, our call to the NJC is to quickly relocate them to a conducive environment where they will dispense justice without fear or favour because it is he who is alive that can deliver judgment.

“Abuja is a safe haven. Nobody can come and misbehave in Abuja. We are telling the NJC that any state that some elements have proven to be toxic, threatening the judges, then the NJC should relocate the judges to Abuja”,

He added that they do not want aggrieved persons hijacking the peace and tranquility currently being enjoyed in Delta and Kano states particularly in the camp of those who lost to their opponents at the various tribunals.

The group also condemned statements credited to some political elements who recently warned that the situation in Kano could degenerate into what is happening in Zamfara, following their allegations that federal elements were seeking to influence the tribunal outcome in favour of the APC.

Umar there called relevant security agencies to commence investigations on post-election tensions in the country and ensure integrated security in premises of Appeal courts and during Election Appeal hearings in Abuja.

” On the Kano Tribunal judgment which sacked Gov. Abba Yusuf, the youths condemned the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP whose elements “have been threatening the judges and general peace of Kano State using its supporters.

“You don’t have to intimidate the judiciary or cause war because you lose an election. The tenure is four years after which a fresh election would be conducted. You may prepare yourself to contest again instead of sponsoring people to blackmail highly respected Justices of the election petition tribunal and intimidate the Appeal Court Judges all in a bid to reverse a sound judgment already delivered” The group stated. (Daily Independent)

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