Adeleke Certificate Saga: Court of Appeal Reserves Judgment In PDP appeal

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday reserved judgment in the
nullification of Sen. Ademola Adeleke’s candidacy to contest the
Osun State September 2018 governorship election on account of
forged credentials.

Adeleke, who contested the election on the platform of the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was returned winner by the Osun
State Election Petition Tribunal after Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola of
All Progressive Congress (APC) was declared winner of the election
by INEC.

Justice Othman Musa of the FCT High Court in Bwari, Abuja had on
April 2 invalidated Adeleke’s status as PDP governorship candidate
following a suit challenging the authenticity of the credentials
Adeleke presented to the electoral body.

The respondents in the matter are INEC, APC and Gov. Adegboyega
Oyetola of Osun.

Justice Jauro Adamu, leading two other justices reserved
judgment after counsel for parties had adopted their written
addresses.

Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, Counsel for PDP submitted that the trial
court erred in law in arriving at its decision.

Enoidem said the PDP had relied on Sections 285 (9) 285 (11) and
285 (12) to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to try
Adeleke.

He said the Adeleke’s status as the candidate of the party in
the governorship election had no nexus with the suit that
challenged the validity of his certificate.

Enoidem also averred that the credentials presented to INEC by
the party’s candidate were not forged documents, adding that the
electoral body was right to have cleared him for the election.

He therefore, urged the court to reverse the judgment and
reinstate Adeleke as the duly elected candidate of the PDP who was
returned winner of the Osun state governorship election.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wahab Raheem and Adam
Habeeb, both of the Osun Chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC)
instituted the suit, accusing Adeleke of not possessing the
requisite educational qualification.

Mr Bankole Akomolafe, Counsel for Raheem and Habeeb, urged the
court to dismiss the argument advanced by counsel for the
appellant, adding that PDP’s attempt at challenging the
jurisdiction of the trial court was not heard.

Akomolafe submitted that the appellant’s action was described by
the trial court as an attempt to arrest its judgment.

He therefore urged the court to take judicial notice of the
record of proceedings from the trial court, adding that the PDP did
not at any point file motion that challenged the jurisdiction of
the court.

He said Adeleke was found to have deceived the electoral body
with fake certificate in order to be cleared to contest the Osun
state governorship election.

Akomolafe urged the appellate court discountenance Enoidem’s
depositions and uphold the judgment of the trial court.

The trial court’s findings showed that Adeleke was admitted into
Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Osun State in 1976, but without a
record showing that he graduated.

The court also found that the results Adeleke attached to INEC’s
form CF001 contradicted the one presented to the court by the
Principal of Ede Muslim High School where he claimed to have
graduated.

The last of the controversy of who finally occupies the coveted
seat, may not have been heard as Adeleke has approached the Supreme
Court to test the May 9 decision of the appellate court which
upheld the April 2 judgment of the trial court. (NAN)

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Ramadan: Kwara PDP Assembly Candidate Feeds 5,000
Muslims

Honourable Abdulmajeed Olanrewaju-Oba, the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, candidate for Kwara Assembly in the 2019 elections, has
fed over 5,000 Muslims in Ilorin and Surulere local government
areas of Kwara and Lagos States respectively.

PRNigeria reports that under the Olanrewaju Oba Foundation,
TOOF, the philanthropist have been providing free meal packs to
thousands of Muslims since the commencement of the month
Ramadan.

Speaking during one of the Iftar (fast-breaking) food
distribution sessions, Mr Olanrewaju-Oba disclosed that before the
end of the Ramadan month, he hoped to feed over 10,000 Muslims.

According to him, the decision to provide free meals to Ilorin
and Surulere residents stemmed from a realisation that many
families are undergoing serious economic hardship in the
country.

He noted that the feeding exercise would also help to provide
soothing relief to those who were finding it difficult to feed
during fasting and, at the same time, feed their families.

Honourable Olanrewaju-Oba said: “The religion of Al-Islam
exhorts the rich to always assist the needy, especially during the
month of Ramadan, because of the immense spiritual benefits that
will accrue to them.

“Those who are blessed financially should know that assisting
the needy and catering for the less privileged in this great month
will attract massive reward for them.”