8th October, 2021
By Moji Eniola
Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, on Friday inaugurated the Local Government (LG) Elections Appeal Tribunal.
The tribunal will hear petitions emanating from the council elections which took place in the state on July 24.
Five High Court judges: Justice Morenike Obadina, Chairman, Justice Beatrice Oke-Lawal, Justice Olubunmi Fadipe, Justice Wasiu Animahun and Justice Jubril Bashua will oversee the tribunal.
The inauguration ceremony, which was held at the Ikeja High Court, was attended by Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the Attorney-General of Lagos State, judges and members of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission.
According to the chief judge, the setting up of the tribunal is one of the constitutional provisions for conducting LG elections in the state and is according to the Election Petitions Law.
Alogba said that two tribunals will be set up; one to sit at the Ikeja High Court and the other at the High Court Annex located at the Central Business District, Alausa, Lagos.
“I have carefully thought about the antecedents of all the judges we are putting forth today. I am deeply satisfied with their integrity, hard work, impartiality and honour concerning justice delivery.
“It is a task you are called upon to do for the sake of integrity. The judiciary is not a money-making arm of the government, the task you are asked to perform is to further cement the relationship with the citizens of the state.”
Alogba noted that the tribunal is the last hope of citizens who are dissatisfied with the results of the LG elections as there would be no further appeals thereafter.
He urged the judges to be just in their adjudication.
Following the taking of their respective oaths of office, Justice Obadina, the Chairman of the Lagos State Local Government Elections Appeal Tribunal, gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the other members.
Obadina expressed gratitude for the opportunity given to her and the other judges to serve on the tribunal.
“I want to pledge that I am going to do all that is within our power to work expeditiously on all the cases that will come before the tribunal and work within the timeframe, as mandated by law.
“I want to assure my lord, the chief judge, and the good people of Lagos State that the will of Lagos residents will be fulfilled,” she said.