APC lawyers write panels over security concerns at Benue tribunal venues

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

The All Progressive Congress (APC) lawyers at the ongoing Local Government Election Tribunals in Benue State have petitioned the panel chairmen over growing security concerns at the tribunal venues.

This was contained in three separate letters signed by Matthew Burkaa, Mohammed Ndarani, Sunday Ameh for Zone A, B and C senatorial districts addressed to the tribunal chairmen and made available to newsmen in Makurdi.

In their letters titled, “Re: Notice of Tribunal Sitting on Monday, February 24, 2025, and Our Security Concerns,” the lawyers urged the court not to sit over security concerns.

Burkaa, who is representing Zone B senatorial district, in his letter, said he represents 294 respondents in all the pending 104 petitions before the tribunal in the zone. He explained that they received notices through the secretary of the tribunal, Emmanuel Awuhe, through the ‘Local Government Petition Tribunal Makurdi’ WhatsApp, about the tribunal’s intention to sit on February 24.

He said they were earlier notified that the tribunal would not sit on February 21, 2025, and that a new date for the petition(s) would be communicated to counsel on February 24, in Court.

He said they were taken aback when they received hearing notice that the tribunal would resume sitting on Monday, February 24.

“We have noted the brewing tense security situation around the court premises and within the state in the past few days.

“These state of affairs have created a serious security concern to us as we fear for the safety of our team of lawyers and our clients should they attend sitting on the said date of Monday, February 24, 2025.

“Consequent upon the above, we hereby, respectfully request that the tribunal sitting be adjourned to a further and tentative date when adequate security measures would have been put in place to guarantee our collective security. We shall be graciously delighted if our request is given immediate and adequate due consideration,” the letter read

Also, Ndarani and Ameh, who represent respondents of Zone A and B senatorial districts, all aligned themselves completely with the Burkaa in their letters.