The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to as a matter of urgency, disband the panel hearing appeals in respect of national and state assemblies elections held in the state.
The party, in the letter signed by its Legal Adviser, Benjamin Israel Eke, alleged that panel had been compromised to deliver judgment against the candidates of the party. The PDP gave several reasons for asking that these justices be barred from participating in appeals by or against it.
One, the party alleged that the justices were seen with a former Governor of Rivers and chieftain of the APC.
In the letter dated December 12, 2015, party said: “We have great doubts in the credibility and integrity of the panel to dispense justice as it is presently constituted. Two weeks ago, the presiding judge of the appeal tribunal was seen with the former governor of the state and minister, at the later’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja.
In the letter dated December 12, 2015, party said: “We have great doubts in the credibility and integrity of the panel to dispense justice as it is presently constituted. Two weeks ago, the presiding judge of the appeal tribunal was seen with the former governor of the state and minister, at the later’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja.
“The former’s visit a fortnight ago was however treated with levity by us. Only recently again, on December 10, 2015 at 10.a.m presiding judge, this time was with other members of the panel; at same former governor’s residence in Asokoro.
“The purpose of the visit of course should rather be imagined than told: to prosecute victory for the APC at the Court of Appeal, which in fact they did.
“The purpose of the visit of course should rather be imagined than told: to prosecute victory for the APC at the Court of Appeal, which in fact they did.
“This accounted for the commencement of the sitting of the court later than 4p.m on December 12, 2015. The senior advocate after waiting endlessly had to go and meet the justices in chambers before they came out to sit.
“The result of the meeting between the former governor and the said justices is now history: nullifications of the elections of all National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP on December 10 and 11 by the panel: further instruction to rush all Rivers State House of Assembly appeals and nullify same with the sole intention of creating crisis in the state.”
The party said it had no confidence in the ability of the panel to dispense justice because the justices brazenly refused to follow Supreme Court cases cited to them just because they knew that no appeal would lie to the apex court from their decisions.
“The result of the meeting between the former governor and the said justices is now history: nullifications of the elections of all National Assembly members elected on the platform of the PDP on December 10 and 11 by the panel: further instruction to rush all Rivers State House of Assembly appeals and nullify same with the sole intention of creating crisis in the state.”
The party said it had no confidence in the ability of the panel to dispense justice because the justices brazenly refused to follow Supreme Court cases cited to them just because they knew that no appeal would lie to the apex court from their decisions.
