No dead judges among Election Petition Tribunal members - Appeal Court

Acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed swore-in the 250 Election Petition Tribunal members

The Court of Appeal has dismissed claims that dead judges were listed among Election Petition Tribunal members that were sworn-in on 26 January by acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed.

The court said none of the 250 judges were dead following some media reports that at least 10 judges had passed on.

“The attention of the Court of Appeal has been drawn to a malicious publication making the rounds in some portals that the names of 10 dead Judges featured in the list of the 250 Judges sworn-in on 26 January 2019, as Chairmen and Members of the Election Petition Tribunal,” Mrs Sa’adatu Musa Kachalla, media officer, Court of Appeal said in a statement.

“In view of the above, we wish to state that there was no name of a dead or retired Judge on the list we sent to the Supreme Court for the swearing-in ceremony performed by His Lordship the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Mr Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammed.

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“The Court of Appeal therefore, finds this claim to be false, misleading and a total misrepresentation of the good intentions of the Hon. President aimed at building not only a vibrant judiciary, but an endearing democratic society.

“The Hon. President had painstakingly through the efforts of the states Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Chief Judges of the 36 states selected these men and women of integrity to become members of the Election Petition Tribunal.

“The Court of Appeal therefore craves the indulgence of the members of the public to disregard this fake News in its entirety,” the statement said.