By I.U Faransa Esq. Concerned citizen
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In a split judgment delivered by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi and Justice Chiemelie Onaga in favor of David as the winner and dissent judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mashi in favor of Gofavourr Sule.
I humbly submit that the Judgement is against the reason, the facts and evidence presented in Court; against the relevant Electoral Laws, Guidelines and Regulations as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Indeed, the Judgment is generous in technicalities and very short in delivering substantial justice in the matter.
Let me start with two general observations. First, the two judges who delivered majority judgment relied wholly othe n predetermined ambition of confiscating the state from the incumbent Governor AA Sule and gratuitously given same to David Ombugadu of PDP, the two judges that gave majority judgment turned their legal eyes away from all evidences adduced by the Respondents forgetting that courts of first instance are fact-finding courts that seek to get to the bottom of a matter to do justice.
But the Judges used every conceivable procedural technicality to reject virtually all the facts and witnesses presented by Governor AA Sule and his party (Respondents).
At one point, a cynical thought ran through my mind: did David Ombugadu’s lawyers write the verdict for the judges? I quickly dismissed the thought but was struck by how the judges treated Governor AA Sule’s and his party’s lawyers, most of them Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs, like morons, who were utterly incompetent and ignorant of the law, but treated Ombugadu’s and party’s lawyers with total deference, regurgitating their arguments.
The second observation is that the judge’s interventions and tone betrayed their biases. For instance, Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Ezekiel Ajayi insisted on the results got by Governor AA Sule in Awe Local Government Area and that of Lafia Local Government respectfully, forgetting the results got by David Ombugadu from his stronghold Local Governments like Akwanga, Karu etc.
It is humbled view that the judges that gave majority judgment descended into the arena of the case as if they are party to it, they exposed their selfish and devilish interest overtly.
Finally, I’m very optimistic that the penultimate and apex court will reverse this kangaroo judgment and uphold the minority judgment delivered by Justice Ibrahim Mashi in favor of Governor AA Sule and his party.
Thank you.
I.U Faransa Esq.
Concerned citizen
3rd October, 2023.
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