Despite the intense blackmail and unholy propaganda adopted by the suspended National Chairman of the African Action Congress ( AAC), Mr Omoleye Sowore, the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal approved Mr Henry Bello as the counsel to the AAC in the suit filed by the party against the election of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.
The approval of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal followed a notice filed by the AAC at the Tribunal on May 21, 2019.
In a notice filed at the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal for Petition Number EPT/RS/GOV/03/2019, the AAC informed the Tribunal that H.A. Bello is now their new counsel.
The Notice Approved by the Tribunal Read: “Notice of Change of 2nd Petitioner’s Counsel, Order 9, Rule 35 (1) Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.
“Take Notice that the 2nd Petitioner , African Action Congress ( AAC) has changed its counsel from Tawo Tawo (SAN) to H.A. Bello Esq “.
Mr Henry Bello has already taken over the Representation of the AAC as he appeared before the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal on Thursday, May 23, 2019.
It will be recalled that Mr Omoyele Sowore was suspended by the National Leadership of the AAC, over his indictment on corruption allegations.
At the Tribunal on Thursday, Chairman of the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal, Justice O. K. Kaigama granted the leave of the application by the petitioner to inspect some of the documents used during the 2019 general elections.
The Tribunal refused to grant access to the petitioner to inspect and scan personal documents of the PDP Candidate for the 2019 general elections in Rivers State.
Speaking after the sitting of the Tribunal, new Counsel to AAC , Henry Bello in an interview, cited section 36 of the constitution that conferred powers on litigants to choose their preferred counsel for legal representation
The counsel further explained that public documents used in an election cannot be scanned by anyone. He added that petitioners seeking redress in Tribunal can only apply for certified true copies, pursuant to provisions of section 104 of the Evidence Act.
Defeated Rivers State AAC Governorship Candidate, Biokpomabo Awara on Friday lamented the decision of his crisis-ridden online political party to appoint Henry Bello as Counsel to the AAC.
Awara said the new appointment means that he will lose at the Tribunal. He claimed that AAC Suspended National Chairman, Omoyele Sowore used his medium, Sahara Reporters, to circulate allegations that suggested the defeat of the crisis-hit AAC.
Governor Wike was re-elected by the good people of Rivers State on March 9, 2019 with the Collation of Governorship Election results concluded on April 3, 2019. INEC Returning Officer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Otuoke, Prof Teddy Adias declared Governor Wike winner after he polled 886,264 votes, to defeat African Alliance Congress candidate, Biokpomabo Awara who scored 173,859 votes.
The total margin between the two contestants as 712,405.
