Elections are extremely complex, fiercely competitive and highly emotive. Historically, elections have been a catalyst for violence. Worthy of note is a spike in the number of pre-election litigations across Nigeria in the course of every election cycle, especially related to intra-party disputes.
In response to stakeholders request for capacity building, and with the 2023 elections are on the horizon, AGA-Africa collaborated with the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Nigeria, on an informative two-day workshop themed ‘Dispensation of Justice in Pre-Election and Election Matters’ held on 22nd-23rd June 2022.
The workshop offered a platform for capacity building among senior justices and lawyers; equipping them with training on the pertinent issues relating to pre-election and election matters. As well as gain an understanding of election framework, operations and the elections dispute resolution.
The workshop was officially opened by Ebelechukwu Enedah, Country Coordinator for Nigeria, with opening remarks from Markus Green, AGA-Africa Board Member, the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed CFR, the President of the Court of Appeal, Honourable Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem and Honourable Justice Salisu Garba, Administrator, National Judicial Institute, Nigeria.
The workshop was attended by Hon Lady Justice Maria Kawimbe, Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, Hon Justice Boissie Henry Mbha, Judge of Appeal, Supreme Court of Appeal, South Africa, Stephen Andrew Cobb, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP- Washington, D.C., and member of the Public Policy & Regulation Group, USA, Hon Justice Mariama Owusu, Judge of the High Court of Zambia and Board Chairperson for the Regional, Psychosocial Support of Litigation and Prosecution, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre and convener of Civil Society Situation Room.
The workshop sessions were facilitated by regional and local subject matter experts: Prof David C. Blake, General Counsel, Attorney General Alliance, Kyle E. N. George, First Assistant Attorney General for the State of Nevada and Executive Board of the Office of the Nevada Attorney General, Dr Jean Phillipo-Priminta, Chief State Advocate, Ministry of Justice, Malawi, Beaunard Grobler, Open Source Information Specialist, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) South Africa, Dr Emomotimi John Agama, Managing Director, Nigerian Capital Market Institute, Sydney Gondwe, Africa Regional Manager, Crypto Gaming United Zambia, and Masautso Ebere, Compliance and Prevention Manager, Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), Malawi.
The workshop was officially closed by Markus Green, AGA-Africa Board Member and Ebelechukwu Enedah, Country Coordinator for Nigeria.
