A legal plot to stop the presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress from contesting the 28 March election collapsed in
Abuja today.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court,
postponed further hearing in the case challenging Buhari’s eligibility
till 22 April, well after the election, deferring also the challenges by
Buhari’s powerful team of lawyers to the court’s competence.
But
today, the court rejected the applications brought before it by two
persons seeking to be joined in the suits instituted against the
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Gen.
Muhammadu Buhari, challenging his eligibility to contest the forthcoming
presidential election on account of his alleged non-possession of
requisite educational qualification.
In refusing the joinder
application, Justice Ademola, noted that the duo have no business being
parties in the suit, more so as defendants as they had applied. The
judge categorically described the duo as meddlesome busy bodies who have
no reason whatsoever to being parties.
The persons, Mr. Ebun
Adegboruwa and Chukwuma Ochu, had approached the court seeking to be
joined in the suit as defendants but their application was opposed by
the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who insisted through their lawyer,
Chief Mike Ozekhome, that the duo were meddlesome interlopers who have
no business being parties in the suit.
Chukwuma Ochu had claimed
that he’s a card carrying member of the All Progresives Congress, APC,
and that Buhari is his candidate and that should he be denied the
opportunity to contest the forthcoming presidential election, he would
be disenfranchised. Adegboruwa claimed that he is a pro-democracy
activist who wants an equal playing field for all candidates.
“It
is the court’s opinion that they are not more than meddlesome
interlopers. Their application is hereby refused”, said the court.
The
court thereafter adjourned the matter till 22nd and 23rd of April for
further proceedings as there are still outstanding hurdles to cross
before the matter can be heard.
The adjournment of the matter
frees the APC Presidential candidate from distractions in participating
in the rescheduled 28th March Presidential election pending the
determination of the suits challenging his eligibility to contest for
the election.
However, the issue of whether he is qualified to
contest or not, remains unresolved and will continue after the elections
as the matter is a pre-election matter.
Buhari has protested the
competence of the suit on the claims that he was not properly served
with court papers. His preliminary objections to the suit are yet to be
dispensed with.
Source:PM News
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