October 28, (THEWILL) – The National Judicial Council (NJC) has constituted a panel to probe all conflicting rulings by the State and Federal High courts relating to the political crisis in Rivers State.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, inaugurated the probe panel on Monday, in Abuja.
THEWILL gathered that the panel is chaired by a former justice of the Court of Appeal (name withheld).
Rivers State has witnessed series of conflicting rulings by the State and Federal High courts since the onset of the political crisis between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Recently, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing voters’ registers to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to conduct the October 5, 2024, local government election in the state. The court also barred the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Department of the State Service (DSS) from providing security for the poll.
The Federal High Court order came after a Rivers State High Court ordered RSIEC to conduct the elections using the National Register of Voters for the 2023 General Elections compiled INEC. The state High Court had also ordered security agencies including the Police to provide adequate security and ensure maintenance of peace, law and order during and after the October 5 local government poll in the state.
Meanwhile, worried by public criticisms of conflicting orders by the High Courts, the CJN has summoned Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
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