NJC TO FIRE JUDGES WHO GIVE RESTRAINING ORDERS ON CERTIFICATE OF RETURN

The National Judicial Council(NJC) has revealed plans to sack judges who give restraining orders to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on issuance of certificate of returns to the winners in the recently concluded National Assembly elections.

The council says it has been briefed on how some politicians are scheming to play with the electoral laws by approaching courts and demanding for non-issuance of certificate of returns to the winners on different grounds.

Already a committee has been set up to investigate and sack any judge who tries to manipulate the constitution by tampering with the electoral laws.

The source said the electoral law is explicit on matters concerning declaration of winners in polls.

“This committee is saddled with, among other things, the responsibility of ensuring that judges of both lower and higher courts key into NJC’s renewed efforts at ridding our country of the canker-worm

“Electoral Act states that an election result, once declared by the INEC Returning Officer for the election in question, cannot be questioned by the same INEC

“Upon declaration of the result of the election by the designated Returning Officer, the winner should be presented with certificate of return . Any dissatisfaction from any party should be redressed in tribunal and nothing more.

“Any judge in lower or higher courts who concedes to the manipulation of any politician by giving a restraining order to stop INEC from presenting certificate of returns to declared winners faces job lose among other punishments. It is our duty to protect the judiciary.”