By Jennifer John
Citizens of Imo State from all walks of life yesterday protested in Owerri, the state capital, against the relocation of the Imo State Election Petition Tribunal to Nasarawa State.
The spokesman of the group, Mr. Milla Sunday said they were on a peaceful protest at the headquarters of Imo State High Court, to register their displeasure over the relocation of the Imo State election petition tribunal to Nasarawa State.
He said by the protest, they were sending a signal to the President of the Court of Appeal, calling on him to use his good office to yield to the demand of Imo citizens and order for the election petition tribunal to be brought back to Imo State which he said is even safer than Nasarawa State.
He said other courts are seating comfortably in the state, wondering why that of the tribunal will be a difference.
He said those who instigated the idea of transferring the Imo election petition tribunal to Nasarawa State are litigants who have closed their submissions and it will now be a hurdle for defendants who will open their defense, as it will be a herculean task for them to be traveling from Imo State to Nasarawa State, with their witnesses, lawyers and others involved in the defence.
They also pointed out that it is an ochestrated plan to shut out Imo masses who are interested in going to the tribunal to witness the cases.
The spokesman pointed out that the letter of threat said to have emanated from members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), is an unsigned paper which the leadership of IPOB/ESN has publicly denied and dissociated themselves from letters.
