The presidential election
petition tribunal has warned against public analysis of its proceedings.
Speaking during its inaugural
sitting on Wednesday, Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the court of appeal, said
actions will be taken against offenders.
Bulkachuwa lamented the practise
of analysing court proceedings on social media and making a verdict while the
court has not made a pronouncement.
She said litigants in the pending
presidential election petitions before the tribunal will have equal chance to
argue their case.
“Any breach will not be condoned
and we will not hesitate in taking necessary action against such offenders,”
Bulkachuwa said.
“We assure all stakeholders that
each litigant will be given equal opportunity to present his case in a mature
manner before us.
“We are witnesses to what has
been happening in high-profile cases where such cases are being discussed and
publicly decided prematurely in both the social and electronic media before the
announcement of the verdict by the court.
“We pray that this time would be
an exception for the benefit of the nation. We don’t expect counsel to any of
the parties to hype the polity after any sitting by making a public analysis in
the media as to what transpired in court.”
She urged the parties, lawyers,
public commentators and journalists to refrain from public discourse of the
proceedings until the tribunal pronounces its judgement.
“These proceedings should be
treated as would any other low-profile case, where proceedings in court are not
discussed publicly until a decision is pronounced by the court,” Bulkachuwa
said.
“This admonition is also extended
to the parties, their respective counsel and the members of the press.
“We, on our own part, will make
relevant information available as and when due.”
The tribunal will consider four
petitions challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory.
Among the petitions is that of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar, its candidate.
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