The Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Sulaiman Amida Hassan Esq., has warned the Election Petition Tribunal Registry Staff against leaking judgments to politicians.
Hassan, who presented a paper at a two-day capacity building workshop organised recently for the Election Petition Tribunal Registry Staff by the Court of Appeal, also cautioned them against offering unofficial assistance to the political parties during the hearing of cases.
The Chief Registrar, whose paper was titled: “The Pertinent Issues Arising from Election Petition Tribunal: Challenges and The Way Forward’’, urged them to acquaint themselves with the relevant laws on the Election Tribunal to have sufficient knowledge of the law guiding their roles as registry officials.
To this end, he called on the Court of Appeal to deploy the best hands in terms of knowledge and character to the Election Tribunal as Registry staff, and called on the staff to be incorruptible and possess unquestionable character.
He said: “As Registry officials serving at the Election Petition Tribunal, you are expected to understand the basic laws governing Election Petitions in Nigeria. The Constitution is the grund norm through which other laws derive their validity.
“The bulk of the role of Registry Staff in an Election Tribunal challenges the mode of their recruitment, as the Court is expected to deploy its best hands in terms of knowledge and character. Considering the fact that election matters are Sui generis, members of staff are expected to work assiduously and timeously.
“The second most important issue is integrity. Registry Staff must be incorruptible and possess unquestionable character, hobnobbing with counsel and litigant is misconduct and a serious one at that. We must not use our position or office to unduly give an advantage to one party over the other.
“Remember, you are swimming against the tide, you cannot be smarter than politicians and they certainly have their way of exposing you when push comes to shove. Politicians, through some Counsel, will stop at nothing in trying to induce Registry staff to buy your conscience to derive advantage and cheat on the process.
“Registry staff must be able to identify who their Master is, the Court, the Parties, or the Counsel who is only carrying on his trade. We are the closest to the bench and we must not be used as a tool to bring down the integrity of the panel through our conduct. At this juncture, I must particularly address our confidential secretaries. We have had to deal with cases of leakages of Judgment and the experiences have not been palatable.
“Your role is more delicate, onerous and you cannot afford to disappoint yourselves. Your interactions with lawyers and litigants are strictly official. Many have lost their jobs in the process of trying to provide assistance to lawyers. Do not try to offer any kind of unofficial assistance to the parties and their counsel or even oblige them with your contact, so that temptation does not set in’’.
He, however, called for the provision of adequate security during the tribunal sittings to protect members of the panel, registry staff, and the litigants.
