By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Lawyers handling the local government election petitions in Benue State have expressed serious security concerns and sought an adjournment of the tribunal sittings scheduled for February 24, 2025.
In separate letters to the chairmen of the Benue State Election Petitions Tribunal for zones A, B, and C, which copies were made available to journalists yesterday in Makurdi,the lawyers cited reliable information indicating potential threats of violence against them and their clients.
The lawyers, led by S.I. Ameh (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani (SAN), and Matthew Burkaa (SAN), stated that the security situation around court premises and within the state has become tense in recent days, making it unsafe for them to attend the tribunal sittings.
The lawyers in their separate correspondences dated February 21, humbly request that steps be taken immediately to beef up security arrangement around the sitting venue with a view to protect the lives of their team of lawyers and clients.
They respectfully requested that the tribunal sittings be adjourned to a later date when adequate security measures would have been put in place to guarantee their collective safety.
The lawyers who expressed optimism that their request would be given immediate and adequate due consideration however,emphasized their commitment to ensuring that justice is served, but argued that their safety and security are paramount.
