There is tension in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting at Bwari, on Wednesday, fixed July 3 to deliver judgment on a suit challenging the eligibility of former Minister of Mines and Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to participate in the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.
Justice Othman Musa reserved his judgment after parties in the matter argued and adopted their final briefs of argument.
The court had earlier ordered the service of hearing notices on both Fayemi and the All Progressives Congress, APC, who were listed as 1st and 2nd defendants, to enable them to respond to legal issues that were raised in the suit which was filed by African People’s Party, APP.
The government of Ekiti State was equally cited as the 3rd Defendant in the matter.
APP, through its lawyer, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, is praying the court to determine “Whether or not upon a calm reading of Section 182 (1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended and having regard to the indictment of the 1st Defendant by the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry, the 1st Defendant is not Constitutionally disqualified to hold public office especially office of the Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria?
“Whether or not upon a sober reading of Section 182(1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, a political party [such as the 2nd Defendant herein] can validly sponsor a candidate [such as the 1st Defendant herein] constitutionally disqualified from vying for the office of a Governor of a State?”
Against the background of the answer(s) that may be given to the questions of law, the plaintiff, claims the following reliefs from the court, against the Defendants:
“A declaration that upon a calm reading of Section 182 (1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended and having regard to the indictment of the 1st Defendant by the Ekiti State Judicial Commission of Inquiry, the 1st Defendant is Constitutionally disqualified to hold public office especially office of the Governor of Ekiti State of Nigeria.
“A solemn declaration that upon a sober reading of Section 182(1) (i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, a political party [such as the 2nd Defendant herein] cannot validly sponsor a candidate [such as the 1st Defendant herein] constitutionally disqualified from vying for the office of a Governor of a State.
As well as, “An order of this Honourable Court restraining the 2nd Defendant from either considering, screening, accepting and or sponsoring the 1st Defendant or holding him out as its governorship candidate in the forthcoming governorship election scheduled to be held in Ekiti State of Nigeria on the 14th day of July, 2018”.
While adopting their briefs o argument, APC and Fayemi, through their lawyer, Chief Rufus Balogun, challenged the competence of the suit, even as they urged the court to dismiss it for want of merit.
In a 28-paragraphed counter-affidavit that was deposed to by one Oluwaseun Odewale, APC told the court that it was “flabbergasted” by Report of the Ekiti State Commission of Inquiry that indicted Fayemi.
According to APC, “The most worrisome aspect of the Report is the purported barring of Dr. Kayode Fayemi from holding public office for 10 years when the Ekiti State is not a court of law”.
On his part, Fayemi maintained that he was not accorded fair-hearing by the Justice Silas Bamidele Oyewole-led eight-man panel of Inquiry that indicted him over alleged embezzlement and contract fraud.
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