APPEAL COURT RESERVES JUDGEMENT AGAINST ADHA SPEAKER, 5 OTHERS

Appeal Court sitting in Yola, the Adamawa state capital has today concluded necessary legal proceedings on 7 cases for the House of Assembly seats and reserved them for judgment at later date.

The decision by the court to reserve the appeals for judgement was sequel to hearing and adoption of addresses tendered by both the appellants and respondents in the suits at a resumed proceedings today.

Of course, the judgement which will be delivered at anytime, will definitely bring an end to protracted legal tussle engaged in by 2 sitting members of the House of Assembly, 4 candidates that contested for elections for the House and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the decision of the Election Petition Tribunal.

Appeals reserved for judgment according to NEWS PLATFORM include that of the 2 embattled members of the House of Assembly, Hon. Shuaibu Dan Musa(APC) Mubi North, Hon. Umaru Musa Bororo(APC) Mubi South, and that of the INEC challenging the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal against Hon. Bororo.

Both the lawmakers were sacked by the Election Petition Tribunal recently following petitions brought before the court by Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Sudi(PDP) Mubi North and Hon. Yakubu Musa Dirbishi(PDP) Mubi South, who contested for elections to represent the 2 constituencies at the House of Assembly.

Hon. Sudi and Dirbishi dragged the Honourable members before the court over allegations of certificate forgery which saw the court delivering judgement in favour of the petitioners; thereby terminating the representation of the members.

The court had while delivering its judgement on the petitions, sacked the members and ordered INEC to issue certificates of return to Hon. Sudi and Hon. Dirbishi, PDP candidates who came second with highest number of votes cast during the polls..

But Hon. Shuaibu and Hon. Bororo, who could not afford to forfeit their juicy seats, decided to appeal their cases to the apex court for redress. The court has reserved the suits for judgment.

Meanwhile, other cases reserved for judgement include the one against the Speaker of the Honourable House, Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, and 3 other sitting members including, Hon. Japhet Kefas(PDP) Gombi, Hon. Ibrahim Musa Italiya(ADC) Mayo Belwa and Hon. Myandassa Bauna(PDP) Lamurde.

The appeals challenging the elections of the Speaker and 3 other legislators were filed at the court by the defeated Hon. Mohammed Atiku Hayatu( APC) Uba Gaya, Hon.Rufai Umar (ADC) Gombi, Hon.Peter Da'ape(PDP) Mayo Mayo Belwa and Hon. Vrati Nzonzo(APC) Lamurde.

NEWS PLATFORM learnt that all the appellants in this election matter have approached the Apex Court with a view to determine whether the judgement delivered by 3 -Man Panel of Judges, led by Justice S. Akanbi, actually reflected the merits of their suits.

The fate of the of all the parties involved in these appeals will be determined by three man panel led by Justice Chidi Nwaoma Uwa, which can take place any moment from now, considering the fact all the necessary proceedings have been concluded today.

 In the case of Hon. Shuaibu Dan Musa and Umar Musa Bororo, the sitting members who were floored at the Tribunal, it is time that will tell whether the Apex Court will reverse the judgment of Lower Court to enable them continue in their representation, or uphold the verdict and then finally pack and leave the hallowed chamber.

While on the other hand, it will certainly be a heart breaking judgement for other Honourable Members who won at the Tribunal if the Apex Court will upturn the decision of the lower court, because there will be no room for them to appeal, as this is their last bus stop.