Lagos election tribunal determine fate of 22 contestants in 21 days

Three days after the Lagos State Local Government Election Petition Tribunal was inaugurated by the Chief Judge, Justice O. Oke, the chairperson of the tribunal , Justice G. M. Onyeabo, on Wednesday stated that twenty-two contestants in the July 22 council polls in Lagos State have appealed the decisions of their petitions.

Justice Onyeabo, who stated this yesterday at the tribunal’s inaugural sitting also noted that the tribunal will hear and determine the appeals in 21 days.

Justice Onyeabo and four other justices: O. Kasali; A. Onigbanjo; O. A. Dabiri and K. A. Jose make up the panel.

The judge said: “Accordingly, therefore, any application for enlargement of time for the doing of an act or taking a step shall not be granted in such a manner as to extend the time for the determination of the appeal beyond the 21 days prescribed.

“To this end, the tribunal solicits the maximum cooperation from the Bar to avoid needless time wasting applications.

“The parties and learned counsel should be rest assured that this panel will be fair to all the parties and follow the Rules strictly. We will have to modify our sitting because of time constraint.

“We also appeal to all, that there should be no hobnobbing with members of the panel and tribunal staff, to allow us concentrate and perform this duty to the society to the best of our endeavour.”

Peter Fowoyo