According to Kunle Adegoke, this kind of petition where the petitioner’s house is in disarray ought to be struck out. Election petition is sui generis and time is of the essence. This tribunal cannot be a store where election petition are warehoused by the petitioner who is not willing and ready to diligently prosecute his petition.
Niyi Owolade begs tribunal to give him 10days to put his house in order before commencing hearing in his petition.
The Election Petition Tribunal hearing petition arising from the gubernatorial election held on the 9th August, 2014 was today shocked by the request of the counsel to the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Osun State, Barrister Niyi Owolade who contested as governor in the August 9th election in the state of Osun for a 10-day adjournment to enable him put his house in order.
After the tribunal read out the pre- trial report wherein two issues were formulated which include whether the tribunal has the jurisdiction to entertain this petition and whether the Governorship election conducted in Osun State on the 9th day of August, 2014 was vitiated by reasons of corrupt practices, irregularities and substantial non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act,2010 (as amended), the INEC manuals as well as the Guidelines for the conduct of the election.
The petitioner through his counsel passionately appealed to the tribunal to grant him a long adjournment to allow him put his house in order which the counsel to both 1st and 2nd respondent (Aregbesola and APC) Kunle Adegoke and Prince Abimbola Esq opposed vehemently.
According to Kunle Adegoke, this kind of petition where the petitioner’s house is in disarray ought to be struck out. Election petition is sui generis and time is of the essence. This tribunal cannot be a store where election petition are warehoused by the petitioner who is not willing and ready to diligently prosecute his petition.
Prince Abimbola on the other hand while opposing the application for a long adjournment insisted that if the court is minded to grant such adjournment, it should be on terms that their 14 days must be inclusive of the 10 days. The application for adjournment to say the least is insultive and should not be granted beyond monday.
The tribunal in its ruling adjourned the case to nextweek friday 14/11 /2014 for hearing of the petition.
Ibrahim Lawal Esq
State of Osun.
No comments :
Post a Comment