Abuja's Rivers tribunal had territorial  jurisdiction -----Supreme Court

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(Nigeria) The Supreme  Court  on Tuesday  held that  the  Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has territorial  jurisdiction  to sit in Abuja following perceived  security  challenges  in the state.
The Rivers  State  Governorship  Election  Petition  Tribunal  sitting in Abuja  had dismissed   a preliminary  objection raised by Governor Nyesom Wike  on the territorial  jurisdiction  of the  tribunal  and the failure  of  the  President of the Court of Appeal  to consult  the  Rivers State Chief Judge  and President of  the  Customary Court of Appeal before  constituting the  tribunals.
Dissatisfied,  Governor Wike approached the  appellate  courts. 
In a lead judgment  read by Justice  Sanusi, the Supreme  Court  held that the  President of the Court  of  Appeal  had the powers to transfer  the  sitting  of the tribunal  to  Abuja  to safeguard  the  lives of  the  judges  and their staff.
The Supreme  Court  also ruled that  in view of  the  fact that Rivers State  had no Chief Judge  or Customary  Court  of  Appeal,  there was no possibility  for the President  to have consulted them before the  constitution  of  the  tribunals.
The court unanimously  held that based on the doctrine  of  necessity the President Court of Appeal  acted in the  right direction. 
The Supreme  Court  further noted that the case of Ibori versus Ogboru cited by  lawyers to Governor  Wike was different  from the  present  situation  as the tribunal  moved out of Delta State  on its  own accord and not on the strength  of  security.

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