Tribunal Victory: Jandor, Rhodes-Vivour Should Join Me In Building Lagos -Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal judgement as a victory for all Lagosians, even as he called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, to join hands with him in building Lagos. Sanwo-Olu said this while addressing newsmen at the State House in Ikeja, after the11-hour judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Arum Ashom at the Roseline Omotosho Court, Ikeja, Lagos. The panel in its unanimous decision, dismissed the two petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Abdulazeez Adediran, and Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, his Labour Party counterpart. The governor lauded the judges for doing a good job, adding that they gave a well thought out and detailed judgment. Sanwo-Olu said the verdict was a call to greater service while assuring that his government would continue to work harder to deliver dividends of democracy to the people “It was a long, tough process but we are grateful that the voice of people of Lagos was heard and upheld. “The deputy governor and I are very privileged and thankful to residents for standing for and by us. It is a victory for all, no winner, no loser. “It is, however, an opportunity for more work and service. Therefore, we will continue to work harder to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” he said. The governor called on other candidates to join hands together to build a Lagos of their dreams. According to him, “l extend, again, an olive branch to my fellow contestants to join us in building the Lagos of our dreams. “If they have the passion to serve, we can work together because there is room for everyone to contribute meaningfully to the Lagos we all desire to see.” Reacting, Mr Olagbade Benson, Senior counsel to the Labour Party (LP) candidate, said the tribunal in his wisdom had delivered the judgment to the best of their knowledge. He advised all members of the party to stay calm and respect the rule of law. “The tribunal has done their part and we cannot ask for more. Therefore, we encourage every member of the Labour Party and all OBIdients to stay calm and obey the rule of law.” The tribunal chairman, Justice Arum Ashom in his lead Judgment had dismissed the petition filed by Rhodes-Vivour on grounds that it lacked merit. On the oath of allegiance to the United States of America by the deputy governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the tribunal held that being a citizen of Nigeria by birth, his oath of allegiance to United State does not prevent him from contesting election. The tribunal, therefore, affirmed the declaration of INEC of the election of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as the governor and deputy governor duly elected. On his part, reacting to the judgment, Mr Austin Akpomreta, defense counsel to the PDP governorship candidate explained that the next line of action would be taken after reviewing the judgment with his client. The election petition tribunal had also declared as dead on arrival, a petition of Adediran against Sanwo-Olu’s election. The tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit. Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by the APC and, therefore, was not qualified for the election. However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The tribunal also declared that it had no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Sanwo-Olu, adding that the issue was a pre-election matter which did not fall under its jurisdiction.  

Tribunal: US Immigration lawyer testifies against Lagos Dep Gov Hamzat

A United States Immigration lawyer, Mrs. Olubusayo Fasidi, on Thursday, said that Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat to the took oath of allegiance in the U.S. to renounce Nigerian citizenship. Fasidi, a Nigerian, testified before Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal. She was led in evidence by Dr Olumide Ayeni (SAN), counsel to the petitioner, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party. The witness told the tribunal that Hamzat, the third respondent in the petition, also applied for naturalisation as contained in Forms 8CFR/337 and N400. Ayeni tendered the documents to the three-man tribunal but counsel to all the respondents objected, saying that the reason for their objection would be included in their final written addresses. During cross-examination by counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Eric Ogiegor, the witness said that an individual could enjoy dual citizenship. She, however, said that she was not aware of the provision of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution that dealt with dual citizenship. She said that she was subpoenaed before the tribunal to explain U.S. law and not Nigeria’s Constitution. Mr. Bode Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to Hamzat and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, asked the witness to disclose the jurisdiction and date Hamzat applied for naturalisation but she said she would not, because the information was protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The All Progressives Congress (APC) counsel, Mr Norris Quakers, asked the witness if she was aware that Hamzat disclosed his American citizenship. The witness replied in the affirmative, and Quakers thereafter argued that the witness addressed issues of law and not those of facts. The tribunal led by Justice Arum Ashom, while admitting all the documents in evidence, ordered counsel to the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Mikail Abdullahi and Justice l.P. Braimoh. The tribunal adjourned the case until June 26 for continuation of hearing. Earlier, Ayeni presented result sheet from polling units in nine local government areas of the state to establish differences in some areas, against what is recorded on INEC’s Form EC 40A. Counsel to INEC, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat and APC objected to the admissibility of the Form EC 40A, reserving reasons until their final written addresses.