March 28 election, Gen Muhammadu Buhari has told Justice Adeniyi
Ademola to follow due process in the determination of a suit
challenging the propriety of his academic qualification.
Buhari had through his lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed
the court on the need to follow due process.
Buhari was dragged before the court by a lawyer, Chinwuike Okafor,
challenging the legality of the general's academic qualification for
the presidential election.
At the resumed hearing of the case yesterday, lawyer to the plaintiff,
Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) told the court of the need for expeditious
hearing of the matter.
He added that time was of the essence since the crux of the suit deals
with disqualification of Buhari, whom the plaintiff alleged, is not
qualified to contest the presidential election slated for March 28.
Ozekhome had invited the court to consolidate the originating summons
and all pending applications over the jurisdiction of the court on the
grounds that, "the presidential election wherein we demand Buhari's
disqualification will hold on March 28".
Lawyer to the APC, (the 2nd defendant in the matter), Chief Lateef
Fagbemi (SAN), while objecting to the application of the plaintiff,
said, "I have never seen where the issue of challenge to service by
substituted means is lumped up with the originating summons.
"The Issue of service is factual and legal. We have to thrash it out
first before talking about the originating summons."
But Ozekhome took exception to the arguement of the defendants, saying
he has always advocated that the general elections should hold on
March 28 as scheduled.
He said,"I am for election holding on March 28. I never said the court
should decide the suit before election nor have intention to scuttle
the democratic process.
"Our application has to do with disqualification of Buhari; deciding
the case on time and having one candidate disqualified out of 16 flag
bearers cannot scuttle the presidential election of March 28 as
scheduled.
After listening to argument on whether or not the court should take
the originating summons together with all pending applications,
Justice Ademola adjourned the matter till March 24 for ruling.
--Leadership Newspapers
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