The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, May 30, cancelled the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) given by Justice Othman Musa, which voided Adeleke’s candidacy for Osun election.

In a unanimous judgment by a three-man panel on Thursday, the Court of Appeal held that the FCT High Court was wrong to have concluded that Adeleke did not complete secondary education and that he represented false academic certificate, The Nation reports.

The verdict, given by the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Agim, faulted the trial court for taking jurisdiction over the case filed by Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb outside the two weeks prescribed for pre-election cases by the Nigerian constitution.

Justice Agim, maintained that the case was statute barred, and that the plaintiffs contravened Section 285 of the constitution in the filing of the caseThe judgement also faulted the trial judge for failing to deliver judgment within 80 days and awarded N3 million in favour of Adeleke, to be paid by the plaintiffs.

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja had ruled in favour of Osun state governor, Gboyega Oyetola, in the Osun 2018 governorship election case. The election tribunal judgment had earlier ruled in favour of Adeleke, declaring him winner.

Oyetola, his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had filed substantive appeals, seeking the setting aside of the decision of the tribunal.

 

MIXED REACTIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Now that Adeleke has won, no longer a certificate forger, can we do same for Buhari, at least to clear the air.

— Prince Adelaja Adeoye (@AdelajaAdeoye) May 30, 2019

Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has reacted as Court of Appeal set aside the April 2, 2019 judgement of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, which earlier voided Senator Ademola Adeleke’s candidacy for the 2018 governorship election in Osun State.

The lawmaker was said to have been in possession of an invalid secondary school certificate.

But, a three-man panel of the court held in a unanimous judgment on Thursday, that the FCT High Court was wrong to have concluded that Adeleke did not complete Secondary School and that he made false representation as regards his educational qualification.

The lead judge, Justice Emmanuel Agim, faulted the trial court for assuming jurisdiction over the case filed by Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb outside the 14 days prescribed for pre-election cases by the constitution.

Omokri said he expects the All Progressives Congress, APC, to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court.

The former Presidential aide, however, expressed hope that Adeleke would prevail at the apex court.

He tweeted: “I congratulate Senator Ademola Adeleke @IsiakaAdeleke1 on his victory at the Appeal Court. I‘m sure the @OfficialAPCNg will appeal to the Supreme Court and I am hopeful that he will also prevail there.

“The victory of evil over good must be short lived #FreeLeahSharibu #RenosDarts.”

 

Source: Legit