Delta election tribunal delivers ruling after petitioner seeks case transfer

The Delta State All Progressives Congress’ candidate in the 2019 House of Representatives election, Prince Collins Eselemo, has asked the President, Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to probe the state election petition tribunal members for delivering judgment after he sought the transfer of his case to another court.

Eselemo said the tribunal delivered the ruling in his absence, claiming that he abandoned his petition against the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Nichola Mutu, a claim he denied.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Monday, the APC candidate explained that he had in a petition dated June 26,2019, asked the Court of Appeal President to transfer his election petition to another tribunal because he believed the tribunal would not give him justice.

While waiting for the case to be transferred by the Appeal Court President, Eselemo said he was shocked to learn that his case had been dismissed by the tribunal sitting in Asaba.

Instead of handing off the case as prayed, Eselemo said the tribunal members went ahead to deliver a ruling on July 22, 2019, dismissing the case as abandoned.

He tendered his series of petitions to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Appeal Court President, and the National Judicial Council, which were also copied to the Chairman and Secretary of the Delta state election petition tribunal, Justice England Ngene and Suraju Gusau, respectively.

The petitioner also presented a response from the Court of Appeal President acknowledging his petition and assuring him that action would be taken on his request.

The letter with reference number, PCA/EPT/2019/Vol.V, dated July 3 was received by the APC candidate on July 25 in Abuja.

The letter, signed by Bulkachuwa’s Secretary, Mrs. E. Ehilor, read, “I am directed by the Hon. President, Court of Appeal, to inform you that she was not on seat when your petition was brought as she had travelled out of the country for an official assignment, hence the delay in addressing your petition. It is now being considered for further action.”

Eselemo explained that the tribunal dismissed his petition 24 hours after he received the assurances from the Appeal Court President that his complaints would be addressed.

He said, “I appeal to the President, Court of Appeal, to set up a panel to handle my election petition. What the Delta state election petition tribunal did was an ambush, illegal and totally against the due process and laws of natural justice.”

But the tribunal secretary declined to comment when contacted, saying inquiries should be directed to the Appeal Court President. “The Appeal Court President has the details of everything, please contact her for clarification,” Gusau stated on the phone. The Appeal Court spokesperson, Mrs. Sadatu Musa, however, said she did not have information on the matter.

Otunba T.J Abass

The Publisher, Ekohotblog.com

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Otunba T.J Abass

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