There was mild chaos at the Presidential Election Court on Saturday morning as lawyers, including Senior Advocates and journalists were asked to drop their phones and other gadgets including laptops before going inside the courtroom
A boldly printed notice was pasted at on the three entrances leading into the courtroom, with many lawyers expressing dismay over such directive
Many who had set out early to the court were left locked out as the door to the courtroom remained shut.
The situation got agitated when the secretary to the Presidential Election Petition Court, Josephine Ekperobe arrived, and told all the lawyers and journalists waiting to access the courtroom to comply with the instructions. This drew shouts of condemnation from the crowd of lawyers who had been waiting anxiously since about 9am, forcing her to withdraw
Fee minutes later, at about 9:45am, the door to the courtroom was eventually opened to let allow people in.
No explanation was given for the notice or who issued the directive.
But the Court’s secretary later apologized, saying it was “a directive from above” which will take effect from Monday 22nd May, 2023.
