March 14, 2010
The Supreme Court today granted an order to stop tomorrow's scheduled judgement by the Elections Petitions Appeal in Sokoto State. Saharareporters learned that a panel of the court presided over by Justice Dahiru Musdapher, decided to suspend the delivery of the judgement until the substantive issues are resolved on April 1st 2010.
The Supreme Court today granted an order to stop tomorrow's scheduled judgement by the Elections Petitions Appeal in Sokoto State. Saharareporters learned that a panel of the court presided over by Justice Dahiru Musdapher, decided to suspend the delivery of the judgement until the substantive issues are resolved on April 1st 2010.
Saharareporters had revealed in an article published a few weeks ago that the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Federation, Katsina Aloysius-Alu, was personally interested in the case and had helped the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Wammakko, to approach the President of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami to award judgement in favor of Wammakko, but the jurist declined his offer.
The bizarre twist to today’s Supreme Court order is that Justice Musdapher had stated during his delivery of the order that he was not qualified to preside over the case because he was privy to the discussions between Justice Salami and the CJN, yet granted a stay of proceedings against the tribunal saying that another justice of the court would preside.
The Sokoto case had become messy, with lawyers and senators deposing to scandalous affidavits aimed at pressuring the President of the Court of Appeal, but unfazed, he reportedly fired an explosive reply to a query sent to him by the Nigeria Judicial Council detailing how the CJN had pressured him with bribes and subtle threats to give the judgement in favor of Wammakko, an approach that he declined.
Saharareporters sources said the judgement, had it been allowed to go ahead tomorrow, would have favored Wammakko’s opponent, the candidate of the DPP Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi.
Saharareporters had revealed in an article published a few weeks ago that the newly appointed Chief Justice of the Federation, Katsina Aloysius-Alu, was personally interested in the case and had helped the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Wammakko, to approach the President of the Court of Appeal, Ayo Salami to award judgement in favor of Wammakko, but the jurist declined his offer.
The bizarre twist to today’s Supreme Court order is that Justice Musdapher had stated during his delivery of the order that he was not qualified to preside over the case because he was privy to the discussions between Justice Salami and the CJN, yet granted a stay of proceedings against the tribunal saying that another justice of the court would preside.
The Sokoto case had become messy, with lawyers and senators deposing to scandalous affidavits aimed at pressuring the President of the Court of Appeal, but unfazed, he reportedly fired an explosive reply to a query sent to him by the Nigeria Judicial Council detailing how the CJN had pressured him with bribes and subtle threats to give the judgement in favor of Wammakko, an approach that he declined.
Saharareporters sources said the judgement, had it been allowed to go ahead tomorrow, would have favored Wammakko’s opponent, the candidate of the DPP Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi.
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