Renovation Of Lagos Courtrooms May Delay Tribunal Sittings

Sittings of the Lagos State Local Government Election Petition Tribunals may be delayed till November following the ongoing renovation of the courtrooms by the government.

The eight-man tribunal was inaugurated on October 21 by the state Chief Judge, Justice Inumidun Akande, to handle petitions from the just-concluded polls.

Investigation by The Tide in Lagos revealed that both the Ikeja and Igbosere Magistrates’ courtrooms designated for the sitting of the tribunals were under renovation.

One of the project supervisors, who spoke under anonymity, said the renovation and reconstruction of the courtrooms would be completed in two weeks.

The supervisor said that they were working assiduously at both sites to ensure the timely completion of the projects.

He said they were being handled by the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor in collaboration with the Ministry of Works and the judiciary.

A visit to the courtrooms in Ikeja and Igbosere revealed that floor tiles, air conditioners and lightening fittings were being installed.

Besides, reconstruction works were still on at the toilets and the adjoining offices which would be used by members and administrative staff of the tribunal.

Section 14(1) and (2) of the Lagos State Election Tribunal Law No. 16 Cap. L75, Laws of Lagos State 2003, as amended by the Local Government Election Petition Tribunal (Amendment) Law No. 7, states that an “election petition appeal shall be heard and determined within 30 days from the date on which the petition is filed”.

Opposition parties had denounced the polls results released by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

According to the commission, the ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) won the chairmanship positions in the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas.

The ACN also won 355 out of the 376 councillorship seats while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 18 seats and Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) won two seats.