Ekiti Governorship Tribunal Moves Sittings To Abuja
The hearing hearing notice sighted in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday said,” the petition pre-hearing will be heard at (High Court No 17, Apo FCT High Court, Abuja) on Monday 24, September, 2018 at hour of (9.00 am) forenoon or so soon as the Tribunal may determine “.
The Tribunal had on Monday during its inaugural sitting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital hinted on holding its subsequent sitting outside the state owing to security concerns expressed by counsels to the parties in the matter.
It said the new venue will be communicated within the next 48 hours.
Counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), had during the sitting made an oral application on the relocation which was also supported by All Progressive Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lawyers
Adelodun cited cases of insecurity and threat to lives encountered in the hands of the crowd that massed at the gate and around the Ekiti State High Court Complex in Ado Ekiti, the State capital before the commencement of the sitting.
Members of the three-member jury are Justice Suleiman Belgore, Justices Aliyu Usman Baba and Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro .
Belgore in his ruling said: “Following the issue of insecurity raised by the Lawyers that there was threat to human lives around the court.’’
He based the decision on his encounter with unruly crowd on his way to the court that morning saying the venue should be relocated in view of this.
His view was not opposed by the respondents.
Lawyers to the respondents expressed similar inclinations that the venue should be relocated to another city citing cases of insecurity to lives.
He said, “We are critically mindful of the consequences of the applications made by the counsel to the petitioner, which was not opposed by the counsels to the respondents.
“We have rubbed minds together and came to the conclusion that this fear is real and apparent that the situation is becoming insecure and tense and we can’t trivialise such.
“We hereby grant the application because of the consequences the insecurity could have on this Tribunal and the new venue shall be communicated through our Secretary to all parties within 48 hours.’’
