Court adjourns suit challenging Bello’s eligibility till November 21

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, adjourned continuation of hearing on the suit challenging whether Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is fit to contest in today’s governorship election till November 21.

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who adjourned the case, said the decision was to afford the governor, who sought to be joined in the matter, a fair hearing.

Justice Ekwo said all preliminary objections in the suit would be taken in the adjourned date and any party absent on the day would be deemed to have adopted them.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Bello had, through his lawyer, Mike Enahoro, filed a motion to be joined in the case on Friday.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who acknowledged receipt of the motion, said it sought to stop the court’s proceeding on the matter.

He, however, argued that the motion is thrown out considering that the election is holding today.

On his part, counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulwahab Mohammed, said he would need more time to study the motion.

However, counsel to INEC, Alhassan Umar (SAN), said he had no objection to the motion.

The suit, dated October 10 and marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1221/2019, filed by Ozekhome on Akpoti’s behalf, sought the court’s determination on the eligibility of Bello in today’s election, having allegedly been involved in double registration as a voter.

Akpoti said: “That by his willful act of making double registration as a voter, Yahaya Bello, candidate of the 1st defendant is not a fit and proper person to be allowed by the 2nd defendant to vote or be voted for in the forthcoming Kogi State governorship election, having committed act of electoral fraud.”