The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Monday, directed Registrars of Election Petition Tribunals to ensure that that tribunal registries are opened seven days before the elections, noting that the challenges faced by Election Tribunals in Nigeria are numerous.

Justice Dongban-Mensem also cautioned registrars attached to the 2023 Election Petition Tribunals against corrupt acts advising them not to see the task as “an opportunity to make money to enrich yourselves.”

She spoke at a workshop on capacity building for election petitions tribunals at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja and warned that “the court will not hesitate to deal with anyone found wanting in this regard.”

She said registrars found wanting by compromising the judicial process would be sacked by the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and prosecuted. “It is part of your obligation to discharge your duties with utmost good faith and not be carried away by little advances.

“Your integrity and that of the Tribunal and its members are in the public spotlight, you must therefore ensure you are not used as weapons to truncate the process. Ensure to live above boards so that you will not put the Judiciary into disrepute”, she stressed.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had in November 2022 inaugurated over 300 judges that would be serving on different panels of the election petitions tribunals to adjudicate disputes expected to arise from the February 2023 elections.

With less than 45 days to Nigeria’s general elections, Ms Dongban-Mensem said the training was meant to highlight the challenges associated with election adjudication with a view to proffering solutions.

The appeal court president explained that the need to tackle the problems in the electoral process brought about the “Election Tribunal(s)” which has been adequately provided for in the Constitution. “They are established for the purposes of determining disputes arising from the conduct of elections into the various elective positions”, she stressed.

She highlighted some of the responsibilities of the tribunal registrars which included; “receipt of Petitions and other Court Processes for filing, Service of Court Processes timeously on Parties, issuance of Hearing Notices, preparation of Court Proceedings and Orders, custody and safekeeping of the Tribunals’ documents, compilation of records among others.”

“It is important for you to familiarise yourselves with the provisions of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Practice Direction as it affects your performance at the Registry.