Politics
Court orders Buhari to respond to certificate fraud allegation in 5 days
The Abuja division of the Court of Appeal has given President Muhammadu Buhari five days to respond to an appeal filed against his qualification for the 2019 presidential election.
Agu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris had filed an appeal challenging the qualification of Buhari, who failed to present his certificate as required by law.
Justice Datti Yayaya on Monday ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to within five days respond to all issues raised on the educational qualification of President Buhari.
He also directed that Buhari’s counsel, Abdullahi Abubakar, to within the period, file necessary processes in relation to the appeal.
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The decision of the appellate court follows a motion on notice filed by counsel to the appellants, Uchenna Ndubuisi.
Ndubuisi prayed the Court of Appeal in the motion to abridge within which Buhari, APC and INEC will join issues with the appellants on the certifcate suit.
Abubakar and Temitayo Lasaki counsel for APC had urged the appellate court in their response to the motion to give them five days to enable them file their respondents’ brief of argument along with other processes so as to set the stage for hearing of the substantive appeal.
Kalu, Ismail and El-Kuris had approached the appellate court to nullify and set aside the Judgment of an Abuja division of the Federal High Court on the case.
They urged the Court of Appeal to assume jurisdiction over the suit and grant all the reliefs sought at the Federal High Court but which were refused.
Among the reliefs were a declaration that Buhari submitted false information regarding his qualification and certificate to INEC for the purpose of contesting election into the office of the President of Nigeria and that he should be disqualified.
They also prayed for an order of court directing INEC to remove Buhari’s name as a candidate of APC .
Also, an order restraining Buhari from parading himself as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election and also APC from recognizing Buhari as a candidate.
July 8 has been fixed for hearing of the appeal.
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