The Kogi Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has been relocated from Lokoja to Abuja by President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem.
The tribunal will now hold its sittings at the National Judicial Institute on Umar Yar’Adua Way. Mr David Umar Mike, Secretary of the Tribunal, urged litigants to take note of the venue change.
While the reason for the tribunal relocation was not disclosed, a source told Vanguard that the decision was taken due to “security reasons.” The source said that members of staff of the tribunal had been attacked on several occasions in Lokoja.
The source said;
“Just last Monday, tribunal officials were attacked on the way to the office. 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 subpoenas, and 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.”