Buhari Escapes Disqualification From March 28 Election, As Court Adjourns Cases Till April

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A moment of respite from disqualification
A moment of respite from disqualification

By Nuel Suji, Abuja.

The All Progressive Congress (APC), presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) may have escaped disqualification from the March 28 election, following the adjournment till April 22 and 23 of the court case which seeks to bar him from participation in the poll.

One Barr. Okafor, a Nigerian, had approached the court, askking the court to bar Buhari from participating in the poll on the ground that the APC candidate falsely claimed that he included his academic certificate to the INEC form whereas he did not have the certificate as of the time.

However, Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday adjourned further proceedings in all suits relating to the challenge of the APC presidential candidate on the allegation of perjury certificate irregularities to April 22 and 23.

There are four of such cases before the judge.

He said it was impossible for the court to conclude the case before the elections and that there was no need for the court to be in haste to determine the case, because it could always do so after the elections.

Justice Ademola further said his decision to adjourn to April was because of the approaching Easter Vacation of the court.

He said this shortly after delivering a ruling in the suit by Chukwuweike Okafor and another against Buhari and two others (one of the four cases).

The judge, in the ruling, dismissed the applications by a Lagos-based lawyer, Ebun-olu Adegboruwa and Chukwuma Ochu to be made parties in the case. The judge said they are not necessary parties in the case.

While rounding off the ruling, Justice Ademola suo motu (without any prompting by parties) adjourned further proceedings to April 22 and 23.