The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has banned the use of phones, laptops and other electronic gadgets during its sittings.
The ban would however take effect from Monday, May 22.
This was made obvious Saturday morning when lawyers, journalists and others who were at the premises of the tribunal were asked to drop their phones and related gadgets before going inside the courtroom.
There were also boldly printed notice pasted at the three entrances leading into the courtroom, with many lawyers expressing dismay over such directive
Another incident Saturday morning was that many who had set out early to the court were left locked out as the door to the courtroom remained shut which led to serious agitations 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.
At about 9:45am, the door to the courtroom was eventually opened to let allow people in without any explanation for the notice or who issued the directive.
Pressed hard by the lawyers and others, the Court’s secretary later apologised, saying it was “a directive from above” which will take effect from Monday 22nd May, 2023.