Obi Vs Tinubu: Unforeseen Illness Halts Petition Hearing
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
The Presidential Election Petition Court has decided to adjourn the hearing of the petition filed by the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi, against President Bola Tinubu to June 1.
This adjournment is due to the illness of two key staff members from Obi’s legal team.
Awa Kalu, SAN, the counsel for the petitioners, requested the court to further postpone the proceedings.
He filed the case to challenge the outcome of the February 25 presidential election, which resulted in Tinubu’s emergence as President.
Kalu, SAN, representing the petitioners, informed the court on Wednesday that two crucial members of their team fell ill unexpectedly and were unable to attend the day’s proceedings.
Their absence, he noted, has disrupted the earlier plan to present essential documents before the court.
He stated, “My lords, our plan for today’s proceedings was to start with the presentation of our documents, but unfortunately, we had some unexpected development.
“The unexpected development concerns the sudden illness of two of our key staff, for which reason I am constrained to ask for an adjournment till tomorrow.
“It is with the greatest humility and apology that we make this application.
“I assure my lords that we will be here tomorrow morning and we will proceed with vigour.”
In response to this development, counsel to the respondents said they were constrained to oppose the request.
Wole Olanipekun, SAN, representing Tinubu, stated that he did not object to the adjournment, and counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, A.B Mahmoud, SAN, and counsel for the All Progressives Congress, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, also agreed to the application.
Following a concise ruling, Justice Haruna Tsammani, the President of the court, granted the application and adjourned the petition until Thursday.
