Justice will be served, says Presidential Election Petitions Court
Justice Tsammani heads panel, with Adah, Yusuf, Ugo, Mohammed as members
BY ANDREW OROLUA
All parties in the legal fireworks over the outcome of the 2023 Presidential Elections have been assured of justice.
This is coming at the instance of Justice Haruna Tsammani, the Presiding Justice of Abuja Division of Court of Appeal, who is heading the five-member panel of Justices of the Presidential Election Petitions Court that commenced sitting in Abuja on five petitions challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the president- elect.
Other members of the panel are Justice Stephen Adah, who is the presiding Justice of the Asaba Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Misitura Bolaji Yusuf also of Asaba Division, Justice Bolokuromo Moses Ugo of Kano Division and Justice Abba Mohammed of Ibadan Division.
The presiding Justice, Justice Tsammani, in his opening remarks said the panel is the Presidential Election Petition Court and not Tribunal. He warned against sensational statements, for the safety of the country.
He said the petitions include that of the Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Labour Party (LP), Allied People’s Movement ( APM) and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He however stated that for convenience the court will take the first three petitions today (Monday), and adjourned to Wednesday, while the fourth and fifth petitions which involve that of APM and PDP would be taken Tuesday and then would be adjourned to Thursday.
While soliciting understanding and cooperation of the bar, the Presiding Justice assured that the bench would be fair to all, adding that the bench is not unmindful of the importance of the cases before it.
Justice Tsammani specifically urged the bar to avoid unnecessary time wasting through unnecessary objections, adding that as lawyers they should avoid making inflammatory statement owing to the importance of the cases before the court.
In his remarks, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing the All Progressives Congress, APC, promised lawyers’ unflinching support in whatever the Court intends to do in giving accelerated hearing in the petitions.
Counsel to the Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Chris Uche (SAN), also assured the court of the support of his team in delivering justice in the matter.
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According to Uche, “We shall do everything possible to see that, this matter is amicably resolved so that the country can move forward”.
Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), counsel for Peter Obi and the Labour Party on his part, equally pledged the support of his team to enable the court resolve the petitions seamlessly.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, also aligned with all the commitment made on behalf of the Bar, saying that, “We recognize the importance of the matter to the country. We shall do everything possible to assist the court in arriving at justice”.
