2023: Fed High Court sets up task force to hear 966 pending pre-election cases

It was learnt that following the primaries by the various political parties, 1,478 pre-election matters were filed at the court’s divisions across the country, from which 512 have been concluded, leaving 966.

Besides the 966, more could still be filed before the end of the pre-election season, The Nation learnt.

A statement by the court’s spokesman, Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, said the constitution of the special committee became necessary in view of the high volume of pre-election cases still pending before the court.

Oby-Christopher quoted a circular letter issued by the CJ as saying that judges who are members of the task force would suspend all regular cases in their courts due to the urgency of the electoral cases, which are time-bound.

“In view of the large volume of pre-election cases filed so far; with the imminent attendant risk of lapsing, it has become necessary to constitute a task force to speedily dispose of the matters, particularly in those judicial divisions with a glut of them,” the statement said.

It also quoted the CJ as saying judges on the task force would have four weeks to dispose of the pre-election cases.

It is expected that the task force will hold its first meeting on or before November 7.