The federal high court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to probe state governors accused of aiding and abetting electoral violence, bribery, vote-buying, and conspiracy during the 2023 general election.

The judgment delivered on Thursday according to suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023 was filed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)in line with its call to prosecute suspected perpetrators of electoral offences and their sponsors

In a statement released on Sunday, SERAP said the court ordered INEC to ensure the appointment of independent counsels to “investigate cases of electoral violence and other electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 general elections”.

Besides, the court also ordered INEC to identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors and most importantly, ensure their effective prosecution. Egwuatu urged INEC “to swiftly prosecute all arrested offenders in the 2023 general elections in the custody of the Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and other law enforcement agencies”.

“I have compassionately evaluated the depositions in the affidavit of SERAP and I have no reason not to believe the depositions more so when there is documentary evidence in support of the depositions,” Egwuatu was quoted as saying.“In the circumstances, therefore, I find merit in the application.

“Being citizens of this great country, SERAP and its members have the legal interest whose enjoyment or enforcement directly or substantially depends on the performance of public duty by INEC.“In requesting the performance of the public duty imposed on the electoral body, SERAP has demonstrated a great zeal of patriotism

“The substance of SERAP’s grouse is the violence associated with elections in Nigeria which tends to prevent citizens from exercising their franchise during elections, thus preventing credible elections and in the long run credible leaders.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that electoral violence and the associated crimes committed during elections in Nigeria is a great bane to the development of this country both democratically and economically.” the statement reads.