Don’t greet me in public, Tribunal chair warns

Chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal in Cross River State, Justice A. Babawale, has warned litigants not to greet her in public.

Babawale, who spoke at the inauguration of the panel in Calabar yesterday, said this was because such gesture could be misinterpreted given the sensitivity of the panel’s assignment.

She said though Nigerians are courteous and hospitable, it did not apply in this particular case, and she warned against anyone trying to contact her in any way.

The judge urged lawyers to restrict all activities to the registry, and also warned against members of the bar interacting with Tribunal workers

Babawale’s panel, comprising Justices S. B. Shuaib and M. C. Okoh as members, is the third panel to handle election petitions in the state.

She solicited the support of stakeholders in and promised that all petitions would be considered on merit.