By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
Niger state Chief Judge, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik has challenged the 12 member Niger State Local Government Council (LGC) election petition tribunal to eschew his sense of professionalism and discipline because the way they handle the petitions amounts to good or bad picture of themselves painted to the public.
As members of the Niger State LGC election Tribunal, the Chief Judge reminded them that not only their name and integrity, but that of the entire judicial arm of government in the state is at stake due to the way and manner they discharged their judiciary responsibilities, warning that they should resist temptations from politicians trying to entice them to subvert justice.
Justice Halima spoke at the inauguration of the 12-man local government election tribunal and the 3-members of the Appeal session to handle cases that may arise from the 1st November, 2025 LGC election, reminding them of the need to resist all damaging overtures from politicians in their desperation to swindle the course of justice.
Some aggrieved persons among the contestants, she further emphasized may not be happy with the outcome of the election while others are happy, adding that they must not disappoint those who have turned to the judiciary as the last hope of the common man by ensuring that they are just and fair to all parties.
She reasoned tha, "Many aggrieved contestants may wish to lay their grievances before the Courts. That's why today we constituted local government election petition tribunals and three members of appellate panel to handle such matters that may arise”.
Justice Halima who reminded the panelists that the procedures before the panel election tribunal matters so much, and are also time bound, adding that judgements or rulings will be reserved until the final decision in the case.
The Chief Judge further cautioned, “You are also to note that amendments are not after pleading have also closed. This is just a reminder because I know you have been tutored on the procedures before the panel for the local government election tribunals as court of first instance”.
She reminded them that tribunal has ninety days within which to hear and dispose of all matters while the appellate division has sixty days within which to attend to all the petitions, and that the Courts have no discretion whatsoever to extend time to do anything by virtue of the local government election laws.
While encouraging the panelists to ensure delivery of justice expeditiously within expected time, Justice Halima cautioned against being partial in the discharge of duties also encouraged them to uphold the ethics of the profession and to protect the integrity of the state judiciary.
“I charge you to avoid conducts that is capable of undermining public trust and confidence in the judicial arm of government and above all, enshew all forms of corrupt tendencies, as I have from time to time excessively discussed issues of corruption".
"Protect yourself from the politicians and their desperation to win even when they appear to be on the wrong side of the law. Yes because you have a name to protect. You have the integrity of the judiciary to protect. You should avoid technicalities. The era of technical justice is long past”, Justice Halima insists.
She reminded members of the tribunal that they were privileged to be selected from among their colleagues and their selection strictly based on merit and the best among you were selected, adding that it behooves on them to prove their worth in the task before them.
The three members of the Appellate tribunal are; Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf as Chairman, assisted by Justice Isyaku Usman while Justice Salisu Majidadi is a member.
Our correspondent reports that, the twelve members of the tribunal included; Aisha Loko Ibrahim as Chairman in-charge Zone A, senatorial districts, Maryam King Chairman Zone B Senatorial districts, while Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim is the Chairman in-charge of Zone C Senatorial districts. NNL.
