A coalition of anti-terror groups, the National Coalition Against Terrorism (NCAT), has pleaded with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, to direct the delivery of Abia State Election Appeal Tribunals through electronic means.
The coalitions hinged its request on what it claimed increasing activities of secessionist groups in the Southeast.
According to the coalition, the appeal is to ensure safety of justices on such panels.
Tribunal judges in Kano and Kaduna recently adopted the Zoom platform to deliver their judgments.
At a press conference, yesterday in Abuja, NCAT’s national coordinator, Terrence Kuanum, claimed that democracy was under threat due to the activities of fifth columnists.
“We are all aware of several threats to lives and property in the South-East. In the last 10 years, we have witnessed massive destruction of police stations. Our police personnel no longer go to work because their lives are consistently under threat and our prison facilities have not also been spared by the activities of the agitators.
“Markets have been severally closed in the South-East on the directive of these groups. For us, it is, therefore, an issue of concern that our judicial personnel, who are assigned to carry out the patriotic duty at the various election tribunals across the Southeast might come under threat considering the activities of the terrorists within the region.
“We can recall that people who have survived the attacks of these agitators are those who carry large convoys and bullet proof vehicles. yet we saw the massive loss of lives of our security personnel when the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah came under attack by these terrorists.
“We, therefore, want the Chief Justice of the Federation to immediately direct all the tribunals in the Southeast to deliver their judgements through electronic means to save the judges involved in this patriotic assignment from coming under threat or even losing their lives.
“Further risking the lives of these judges will bring their rulings to disrepute, knowing full well that they are under threat, and might have delivered their judgment under duress to save their lives.
“Our intelligence gathering, and information reaching us, show that criminal elements are preparing to foment trouble, cause chaos and unrest if the judgement does not favour their interests.
“The coalition, therefore, urges the leadership of the judiciary to immediately direct the delivery of the judgment of Abia State election tribunal through electronic means, and also evacuate all its staff from Abia State to return the integrity of the judicial institution,” the group demanded.