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From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
The Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State capital has expressed concerns over the continuous absence of INEC lawyers which has been affecting the court proceedings.
It could be recall that Umar Mohammed-Jega dragged his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Kabiru Labbo-Jega and INEC before the court.
The complainant is seeking the court to declare him winner of the primaries conducted on May 27 by the party.
At the resume sitting, the presiding judge, Justice Babagana Ashigar expressed worry over the attitude of counsel to the third defendant (INEC) in the case.
While regretting the defendant counsel’s absence in court, the judge lamented that there was no any communication to the court registry for their abscondment.
According him, INEC are the statutory body that will assist the court in determining pre-election matters, especially political party primaries.
“INEC are mandated to monitor political parties’ primaries to authenticate the winner and have their report documented,” he said.
He said the commission needed not to be selective in appearing before the court, instead, they should be neutral in discharging their responsibilities.
In another case involving; Halima Hassan-Tukur vs APC, Yusuf Tanko-Sununu and INEC, counsel to INEC were also absent.
However, after Counsels to the Plaintiff and other defendants started adopting their final written addresses and preliminary objections, Counsel to the INEC, Ahmad Bello-Mahmud, announced his appearance.
The court sought for explanation on why the absence in the two cases?
Bello-Mahmud, who is also the INEC Residence Electoral Commissioner in Kebbi State, said he was only appearing for two cases namely; Shehu Mohammed-Bello vs Shehu Mohammed-Koko, APC and INEC and that of Halima Hassan-Tukur vs APC, Yusuf Tanko-Sununu and INEC.
He said he was not aware that counsel to INEC absconded in some cases, assuring that he would notify the INEC headquarters being the resident electoral commissioner in the state.
The resident electoral commissioner apologised for his late coming as well as absence of counsels in other cases.
About six pre-election cases before the court, five are awaiting judgement in view of the fact that counsels to both plaintiffs and defendants had adopted their final written addresses and preliminary objections.
In the sixth case involving; Shehu Mohammed-Bello vs Shehu Mohammed-Koko, APC and INEC, the plaintiff had closed his case.
The presiding judge adjourned the case to August 29 for opening of defence by the defendants.
