Task Force To Dispose Pre Election Suits

By Ayodele Oni

Worried by high number of pre election suits before it, the Federal High Court of Nigeria has constituted a special task force of Judges to swiftly hear and determine such cases before it.

The information was contained in a circular letter issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho.

There have been instances when litigants do not get favourable judgement due to late filing or late disposal of pre election suits thus giving opponents undue victory.

The circular explained that the task force became necessary to designate a team of Judges following the large volume of pre-election suits that have flooded the court.

According to the circular, Judges who are members of the Task Force will suspend all regular cases in their respective courts, due to the urgency of the electoral cases, which are time-bound.

“In view of the large volume of pre-election cases filed so far; with the imminent attendant risk of lapsing, it has become necessary to constitute a Task Force to speedily dispose off the matters, particularly in those Judicial Divisions with a glut of them.”

A statement by the Assistant Director of Information of the Court,  Dr Catherine Oby Christopher indicated that Justice Tsoho further stated that the Judges will have four weeks within which to dispose of the pre-election cases.