Benue: Election petition tribunal begins sitting
The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Benue State on Thursday held its inaugural sitting. Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice A.A Adeleye, sitting with other two colleagues; Justice C.M Ken-Eze and Justice A.A Mamadi, in his inaugural speech assured both lawyers and all petitioners that the law would take its rightful […]
The National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Benue State on Thursday held its inaugural sitting.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice A.A Adeleye, sitting with other two colleagues; Justice C.M Ken-Eze and Justice A.A Mamadi, in his inaugural speech assured both lawyers and all petitioners that the law would take its rightful course.
Adeleye however adjourned the first case on the list of petition between Mrs. Mimi Adzape-Orubibi (APC) and Dr. Gabriel Suswam (PDP) as well as INEC to May 9, 2019 for pre-trial conference.
Orubibi is challenging the return of Suswam by INEC as the duly winner of Benue North East senatorial district elections but the pre-trial could not be heard because several processes according to Counsel to defendant, Andrew Wombo need to be responded to.
Also, the second case on the petition list between PDP’s incumbent House of Representatives member, Samson Okwu and APGA’s David Ogewu over the Oju/Obi Federal Constituency seat was adjourned to May 16, 2019 for pre-trial conference since pleas have not been completely entered.
Daily Trust reports that, Okwu’s lead Counsel, Kenneth Ikonne, drew the attention of the tribunal to Paragraph 18 (1) of the practice direction which provides that pre-trial comes only after final reply as he stressed that in the circumstances concerned, he was of the view that pre-trial could not go on.
Meanwhile, Ogewu Counsel, N.L Ikyaagba, agreed to come before the tribunal on a later date to do the needful.