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Assembly seat: Appeal Court reserves
judgement
The
Court of Appeal in Jos yesterday reserved judgment in the case
involving the member representing Mangu-North constituency in the
Plateau House of Assembly, Ladan Garkuwa (AC).
Mr Rahila Baleri (PDP) had challenged Garkuwa’s election on the
ground that he was unqualified to represent the constituency.
Counsel to Baleri, Mr Solomon Umoh, told the court that Garkuwa
ended his educational pursuit in primary three but raised various
certificates which enabled INEC to clear him to stand for election.
He said the headmaster of the school Garkuwa alleged to have
attended had testified that at the time he claimed he was a student,
there was no person with such a name.
According to him, the documents submitted by Garkuwa prior to the
election, bearing various names, did not belong to him and urged the
court to allow the appeal.
Counsel to Garkuwa, Mr D.M. Jankan, in his response said his client
did not falsify any data and urged the court to disallow the
appeal..
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) recalls that the lower tribunal
which sat in Jos had upheld the election of Garkuwa.
Meanwhile, the Court also today adjourned to Sept. 18, for
continuation in the case between Mr Peter Azi (ANPP) challenging the
election of Mr Yakubu Choji(PDP) for the Jos North-West
constituency.
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa said the adjournment had become necessary
to enable the counsel amend their briefs of argument.
NAN recalls that Azi, who won the election, was not, however, given
the certificate of return because he was alleged to have been
indicted by the EFCC.
The certificate was therefore given to Choji by INEC who had emerged
the runner up.
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