STOLEN MANDATE: BALLOT RECOUNT IN COURT OF APPEAL
The sitting commenced exactly 9:10am with the judge welcoming and admonishing counsel to all parties to cooperate with them to enable court the dispense justice on time.
The 1st and 2nd appellants (Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and Chief Dan Orbih) were present in court while all respondents were conspicuously absent. Then it got to the turn of the counsel to all parties to make their appearances known to the 3 man panel headed by Hon. Justice Bada.
L.O Fagbemi Counsel to the 3rd respondent commenced deliberations by briefing the court their own version of what transpired in the course of the recount and informed the court too that they have equally filled another counter appeal stopping the recounting.
Yusuf Ali (SAN) reiterated that the matter be heard swiftly because time is of the essence by directing the tribunal to conclude the recounting and also added that the respondent just served them right inside the court this morning which violates the rules of engagements, so he prayed the court to do the needful because their appeal came rather very late, he affirmed.
Counsel to the 2nd respondent Olanipekun (SAN), responded by saying that Yusuf Ali (SAN) was hammering on the issue of time being of essence, “my Lord this two cases are like Siamese twins, so they shouldn’t be heard separately but simultaneously because the first was labelled 8A and ours 8B, my Lord can hear this matter either tomorrow or Saturday as the case maybe”.
Also Olanipekun (SAN) suggested that the court hear the 2 appeals on Thursday though pending when the appellant responds to their application, this motion was accepted by both INEC and the appellant.
Concluding deliberations, Hon. Justice Bada said that since all parties have given their consent, he ruled that hearing of the case will come up on Thursday 16th of March 2017.
Edoko Wilson Edoko
