IN view of the high number of election petitions arising from the national and state House of Assemblies elections, the Court of Appeal has constituted another election tribunal to hear the cases in Kogi State.

Chairman of the second Tribunal, Justice Akiniyi Akintola from the Oyo State Judiciary made this known yesterday in Lokoja, the state capital, during the inaugural session of the three-man panel, saying it was created out of “expediency.”

According to Akintola, “The Court of Appeal set up the panel taking into cognisance, the time constraint for one panel dispensing justice on 29 petitions within the statutory time frame of 180 days.

“We (Tribunal) seek the cooperation of counsels and urge them to dwell on the substance of each matter to ensure that justice is dispensed within the limited time frame.

“We will appreciate if you don’t embark on voyages, the objective of which is diversionary, time wasting or to distract our attention. We solicit your cooperation in ensuring that we utilise the limited time available to us. We will do our best to ensure that within our ability, justice is dispensed.”

Responding on behalf of other counsels, Pius Akubo, SAN, who welcomed the judges to the state, said the lawyers were aware of election petition time-frame, and pledged that they would strictly adhere to the time line.

“We are very conscious of our responsibility under God, to advance the cause of justice,” he said.

Click here to read from source.