All appears set for the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo.
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal yesterday struck out a motion by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), asking it to stop the May 29th inauguration, pending when the petition against them would be determined.
This was after the petitioner withdrew its petition challenging the April 16th presidential election victory of Jonathan.
The tribunal consequently struck out the petition, following request by counsel to Jonathan, Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) who led Mr. Damian Dodo (SAN).
The HDP came to the court yesterday with its house divided. Mr. Tochukwu Alozor, a lawyer who purportedly signed the petition filed on May 6 on behalf of the party, shocked the court when he claimed ignorance of the document, saying he did not author it.
Although the five-man panel of Justices chaired by the Court of Appeal President, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, stood down for 10 minutes, Alozor and a new lawyer for HDP, Mr. Eyare Ogah, could not settle the dispute.
In one breath, Ogah asked for adjournment. In another, he asked to withdraw his appearance for the party.
Surprised by the approach adopted by the lawyer, Justice Salami advised Ogah to make his choice clear so that he would not blame the panel for whatever fate befalls the petition.
Sensing the determination of the tribunal to take a decisive action, Ogah applied to withdraw the petition.
Reacting, Iziyon urged the tribunal to strike it out, while counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. A. B. Mahmud, asked for its outright dismissal.
Ruling, Justice Salami observed that the panel was liberal in allowing Ogah to move the application for withdrawal even though he did not seek the leave of the court.
"We granted the applicant the leave to withdraw the application in concurrence with respondents’ counsel. The petition dated 6th of May is hereby struck out," he said.
Also yesterday, the tribunal granted Jonathan’s request demanding for further and better particulars from the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
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Tribunal clears Jonathan and Sambo for swearing in
Tribunal clears Jonathan and Sambo for swearing in
NigerianEye
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Saturday, May 28, 2011
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