FG okays special tribunal for election violence

Posted by admin Latest Politics Thursday, May 24th, 2012

May 24, 2012 by Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja 11 Comments

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku
| credits: File copy

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved a White Paper on the report of the Dr. Sheikh Lemu-led Federal Government Investigation Panel into the 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances.

One of the highlights of the White Paper is the decision of the government to establish a special election offence tribunal to prosecute those who engage in violence before, during and after elections.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and his Housing, Land and Urban Development counterpart, Ms. Ama Pepple, who is also the chairman of the White Paper Drafting Committee spoke to State House correspondents at the end of the weekly FEC meeting that lasted about seven hours.

Maku said the decisions taken were based on the White Paper were far-reaching, cutting across security services and politicians among others and that they were all aimed at forestalling recurrence.

He expressed the hope that the establishment of a special tribunal to handle cases relating to election violence would speed up justice delivery in the country as it would free the regular court to concentrate on other issues.

Maku said the government had ordered the immediate proscription of all youths/militia groups set up by political office seekers ahead of elections with the aim of using them to pursue their political ambitions.

He said the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Bello Adoke and the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, had been directed to ensure that the directive was carried out.

He said, “FEC reviewed what happened and the merits of this recommendation and accepted to establish a special tribunal to specifically try election offences in the country.

“This we believe will make it possible for speedy dispensation of justice and it will also ensure that all those who take liberty in spreading violence to cause mayhem in elections in the country are not only brought to book but that the judicial process is to try them and ensure that there will be orderly dispensation of justice.

“In addition to this, council also took a look at the circumstances of what happened and the fact that in this country during this democratic dispensation, we have had incidences where office seekers, establish youth groups that run like militia and these groups are believe from all security reports sometimes, are involved in the escalation of violence.

“So council today directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to work with the Inspector-General of Police to proscribe all youth groups that are set up specifically to be used as thugs during elections in Nigeria.”

The minister said the government also approved civil education as a way of forestalling recurrence, noting that the Ministry of Education has already made such education compulsory in schools.

On her part, Pepple said in accordance with the recommendations of the panel, the government also directed the AGF and heads of all security agencies to work out modalities aimed at revealing all laws relating to arms.

She said the decision was taken based on the finding of the committee that the proliferation of arms played a major role in post-election violence.

She also said the government resolved that the ongoing investigation and prosecution of those found culpable in the post-election violence across the country should continue.

She added that the government approved the establishment of a mobile police barracks around Zonkwa, Kafanchan and Goningora Zaria in Kaduna State because of the findings that the area is prone to violence.

Pepple said the government also took notice of the recommendation on job creation and youth development, saying government had already taken action especially with its YouWin Programme for the youth as well as the Youth in Agric Business programme among others.

She said valuers from her ministry have concluded valuation works in eight of the affected states while works are still ongoing in others.-Guardianwp_posts