ABUJA—THE Court of Appeal has explained why it relocated the Osun State governorship election petition tribunal from Osogbo to Abuja.
The tribunal was set up to hear cases arising from the September 22 and 27 governorship polls in the state which returned Gboyega Oyetola of All Progressives Congress.

The recently reshuffled three-member panel was moved to FCT High Court No 24, Apo Abuja on Saturday following the directives of President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa.

The spokesperson of the Court of Appeal, Sa’adatu Musa, said the action of Mrs Bulkachuwa was in line with the Nigerian constitution.

“It is constitutional. The president (of the appeal court) has the power to constitute a panel and to use that same discretion if she feels a need for safety so that there will be peace. If there’s a flash point or there would be trouble or insecurity of the judges, will you want to expose your judges if you are the one? Because of this, once in a while (the president exercises the power) and for peace to reign. Let there be no interference and so as to maintain peace and order amidst tensed politics.”

The spokesperson added that a similar situation occurred in Rivers State, saying: “You could remember in 2016 when she (the president of the court) relocated some tribunals back to Abuja from Port Harcourt.

For example, during the Wike and Amaechi issue, she moved them back to Abuja so that they can stay in a peaceful environment. You could remember in Ekiti where a judge was slapped.”

Asked if the relocation will not be termed a political move by the opposition party, Mrs Sa’adatu said: “They have always thought otherwise. During the PDP time, APC were accusing Her Lordship that she is Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Now it is APC, time and PDP members are accusing that she is a member of APC. Human beings cannot please human beings but for the sake of democracy, she is a very humane leader and a thoughtful person. She thinks beyond us. She supports democracy and for democracy to thrive, it has to be in a peaceful atmosphere. We can’t endanger the lives of our judges.

“Everything is done in an open court. It is just that we are politically impatient and not seeing reasons why she took that step. It was not to please anybody. She swore to an oath between herself and her God. So, what will she gain at this time to cause chaos?”
But reacting, PDP, in a statement by the state chairman, Soji Adagunodo, asked the National Judicial Council to probe the ‘sudden’ relocation of the the tribunal to Abuja.

The party described the relocation as “another sign that there is a desperate and evil plan by some forces to implement a pre-written script on the proceedings and outcome” of its petition before the tribunal.
On his part, APC Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said his party had no objection to the relocation of the tribunal, saying “It is a legal process permitted by the Nigerian law. We support the movement, so long it dispenses justice fairly and without favour. We like to point out to PDP and its candidate, Ademola Adeleke that by the fact on the ground of the two elections, and the official and legitimate pronouncement of the results of those elections by INEC, the mandate of Osun people remains that of Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola and not for Ademola Adeleke as PDP is claiming.”

The party said though it was not shocked by the development, “in view of the several boastings of prominent APC leaders to that effect in the last few weeks”, it was “very disappointed that a very important institution like the judiciary would allow itself to be cheaply manipulated by unscrupulous elements in the political space.”

“We believe that the decision to relocate the tribunal sitting to Abuja was also without any justifiable reason because there had been no reports on any security breach neither had there been any other cogent factor that could have necessitated the action. We want to remind honourable members of the tribunal of the dictum of the eminent jurist Niki Tobi JSC that ‘The true test of a fair hearing is the impression of a reasonable person who was present at the trial whether from his observation justice has been done’”.

“On our part as a party, we will continue to invite the attention of the National Judicial Council, leaders of thought and the international community to the happenings in Osun State and state what these portend for the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and the stability of the country as a whole. We are hopeful that the concerned persons and authorities will act speedily on this matter and restore the hope of the common man in Osun State in the judicial process as an aftermath of the last governorship election.”
The PDP candidate in the election, Ademola Adeleke, filed a petition at the tribunal to challenge the victory of the governor-elect, Mr Oyetola.

Mr Adeleke, who claimed he polled the highest number of votes in the election, asked the tribunal to cancel the victory of Mr Oyetola, who will be sworn-in on November 27. Mr Adeleke asked to be declared winner of the election which he initially led in until a controversial re-run election was held in seven polling units.

The re-run, whose conduct was criticised by local and international observers due to the extent of violence and intimidation witnessed, eventually secured victory for Mr Oyetola and the APC.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/why-osun-governorship-tribunal-was-moved-to-abuja-appeal-court/

APC jaga jaga

At last PDP will loss noni ooo
They have never won a court case against any other party in Nigeria.

Many party has won a court case against them. PDP the epitome of election rigging.

Interesting!

Dead on Arrival!

Osun indigenes chose who they want!

And people from states so faraway are crying and wailing daily!

Goodluck to them!

So it can find comfortable seat play away osun people. Mtchewwwww

Watch our hard fought democracy fly out of the window courtesy of the desperate supporters of APC

The gopherment of quoruption fa.
Osun feeful are in trobu Allah.

MrAJQ:
At last PDP will loss noni ooo
They have never won a court case against any other party in Nigeria.

Many party has won a court case against them. PDP the epitome of election rigging.

Oponu

I read the long thing up there and I didn't see a reason justifying the movement of the tribunal to Abuja.

First it was disbanded, now moved.

Issokay! We are watching.

A very wrong move by the court. No judge was threatened or violence in osun.

MrAJQ:
At last PDP will loss noni ooo
They have never won a court case against any other party in Nigeria.

Many party has won a court case against them. PDP the epitome of election rigging.

sorry 4 ur life, it is PDP dat rig or APC?? everybody knw dat people vote for PDP in dat state nt 4 apc

You almost spoke like the dullard if not one
Seems u have been infected too.
Osun will not be hijacked again isha allah

MrAJQ:
At last PDP will loss noni ooo
They have never won a court case against any other party in Nigeria.

Many party has won a court case against them. PDP the epitome of election rigging.

I will continue to have confidence in an independent and just Judiciary as an important constitutional component of government. I have no problem eith the decision. Whoever wants the proceedings to take plave in Osogbo should have created the right atmosphere.

You can take it to Sambisa Forest for all we care, all we need is justice.

As extracted from the post

For example, during the Wike and Amaechi issue, she moved them back to Abuja so that they can stay in a peaceful environment. You could remember in Ekiti where a judge was slapped.”

Fayose and every Biafra pig supporting him are bastards

Flets:
Watch our hard fought democracy fly out of the window courtesy of the desperate supporters of APC

Ndo o, Anthony Joshua.

Which democracy did you fight for?

Uhn...

post=72889173:
Dead on Arrival!

Osun indigenes chose who they want!

And people from states so faraway are crying and wailing daily!

Goodluck to them!

What do u know about osun people..... U keep ranting ur stupidity in NL..... Have told u time without number, focus on your fish business....

Pat081:
sorry 4 ur life, it is PDP dat rig or APC?? everybody knw dat people vote for PDP in dat state nt 4 apc

People voted for PDP and people voted for APC.

Omisore was the one who finally killed PDP.

MrAJQ:
At last PDP will loss noni ooo
They have never won a court case against any other party in Nigeria.

Many party has won a court case against them. PDP the epitome of election rigging.

That's very true.

PDP doesn't get judgement. What they get is injunction before the Judge finally throws the case away.

Ignore that tin.
He's so obsessed to get a mention from us. .
Keep wailing kid!

My worry is that this Mrs. Zainab's husband is an INEC staff. Nonetheless, Adeleke will get his mandate from the courts, not from this Tribunal.

post=72889173:
Dead on Arrival!

Osun indigenes chose who they want!

And people from states so faraway are crying and wailing daily!

Goodluck to them!

I really wish I could strangle and smother this poor suya guy. I always find him and his comment unbearable,unreasonable and nauseating.

They should allow the judges do their work.

TRADEMARK:


I really wish I could strangle and smother this poor suya guy. I always find him and his comment unbearable,unreasonable and nauseating.

YPB (decode that and faint)

Buhari is a mendacious man and monumental failure but 2019 we will teach him lesson

[quote author=MrAJQ post=72888970]

It is crystal clear now that someone and not INEC influenced the moving of the tribunal to Abuja. Like the one of Rivers State in 2016 was influenced by Amaechi.
See the statement copied from the passage below:
'The spokesperson added that a similar situation occurred in Rivers State, saying: “You could remember in 2016 when she (the president of the court) relocated some tribunals back to Abuja from Port Harcourt.

For example, during the Wike and Amaechi issue, she moved them back to Abuja so that they can stay in a peaceful environment. You could remember in Ekiti where a judge was slapped.”
Amaechi never contested in that election. It was Dakuku who contested.

Ok

Court of Appeal is an APC court

the husband to the court's president is contesting senatorial seat under APC in Bauchi state

our hope shld only be on supreme court decision

post=72889173:
Dead on Arrival!

Osun indigenes chose who they want!

And people from states so faraway are crying and wailing daily!

Goodluck to them!

Try and be Objective.