Appeal Court in Abuja Re-awakens the Case between Sen Adeyemi/Senator Dino Melaye

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday set aside
the decision of the National Assembly Election
Petition Tribunal in Kogi which struck out the
petition of Sen. Smart Adeyemi.

Adeyemi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had
challenged the election of Sen. Dino Melaye of All
Progressives Congress (APC), alleging electoral
irregularities and malpractices.
Justice Muhammed Adume held that the tribunal
was wrong in striking out Adeyemi’s petition on
the grounds of technicalities, instead of
substantial justice.
The appellate court, therefore, remitted the case to
the tribunal for “trial on merit’’.
The court further held that the decision of the
tribunal that Adeyemi did not file his petition
within the time frame allowed by law was wrong
and nullified it forthwith.
Adume said the respondents did not provide
sufficient evidence before the tribunal that the
petition was filed late.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the
tribunal had dismissed the petition of Adeyemi, a
one-time National President, Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) for late filing.
The tribunal Chairman, Justice Akon Ikpeme, had
in the ruling of June 18, held that the Kogi West
ex-Senator’s case was “incurably defective’’.