Emmanuel Tjomas l Thursday, July 13, 2017
LAGOS, Nigeria – The National Conscience Party, NCP has petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade over what it called breach of rules by Justice Ibironke Harrison and Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo for looking down on their Affidavit of Urgency brought before them.
In the petition signed by General Secretary, NCP, Comrade Ayodele Akele, the party said it commenced a suit vide originating summons dated 12 day of May, 2017.
“We equally filled a motion on notice dated the 12 th day of May 2017, seeking an order for interlocutory injunction restraining the defendant, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, from utilising such onerous and obnoxious( resignation from present employment, tax clearance, payment for nomination forms, etc) as basis for standing as a candidates in the forth comming 22nd July, 2017 Local Government Elections in Lagos State”, he said.
According to him, the party filed motion of notice for expidited hearing dated May 12, 2017 but that up till now the two judges to whom the matter was assigned are making excuses not to hear the case.
He explained that after much delay, Justice. Harrison finally slated the matter for June 12, 2017, which is a public holiday.
Justice Harrison, he said failed to sit on the said date and fixed June 19 for hearing. But again, the judge failed to sit and the matter was reassigned to Onigbanjo at which time LASIEC has filed counter affidavit, which the party said it replied by a Motion dated 12th May, 2017.
“However, to our shock and indignation, all efforts by our counsel to secure a date from Justice Onigbanjo for hearing of our motion on notice have been futile. Our counsel was left with no option than to orally apply in open court to Justice Onigbanjo on Friday, 7th Day of July, 2017 to set a date for the hearing of our application in the light of our Adfidavit of Urgency and the looming 22nd July, 2017 Local Goverment Elections.
” Justice Onigbanjo to our surprise told our counsel that he has alot to battle with already and that he should reapply to the administrative judge for reassignment of our matter again to another judge.
“Our counsel made the same application in open court on Monday, 10th day of July, 2017 and was given thesame response despite averting the mind of His Lordship to the res which is the forth coming 22nd July , 2017 Local Government Election”, he said.
According to Ayodele Akele, ” this act of ommission and commission on our matter by Justice Harrison and Justice Onigbanjo has caused irreparable damage to our rights under the law. The defendant in our matter, the Lagos State Independent Electtoral Commission has gone ahead to publish list of political parties and their candidates for the 22nd July, 2017 Local Governments and has excluded our party and its candidates despite a subsisting court action. We have been shut out, disenfranchised and deprived of justice”, Ayodele Akele said.
While appealing for intervention of the CJ, he added that the party is ready to take the matter further before the National Judicial Council, NJC.
