Supreme Court adjourns Wammako’s appeal to March 15
By Innocent Anaba
ABUJA — The Supreme Court has adjourned till March 15, 2010 for hearing on the appeal by Governor Aliyu Wammako of Sokoto State in the suit challenging his election by the candidate of the DPP, Maigari Dingyadi, thereby halting further proceedings on the matter before the Court of Appeal.
Also, the National Judicial Council, in response to a petition by Wammako’s counsel, had directed that all actions be suspended at the Court of Appeal, Sokoto pending its investigations into the matter.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on an earlier verdict of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna which voided the April 14, 2007 electoral victory of Governor Wammako and ordered fresh election by all those who contested in the election
The DPP candidate had gone to the Court of Appeal, Sokoto, contending that the Court of Appeal, Kaduna’s verdict implied that Wammako could not contest again in the fresh election it ordered to be conducted.
The candidate had earlier failed to obtain such a declaration from the Federal High Court, Abuja and later from the second Election Appeal Tribunal in Sokoto, both of which maintained lack of jurisdiction to interpret the verdict of the Court of Appeal, Kaduna.
Wammako in his objection to the appeal before the Court of Appeal, Sokoto argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to interpret, review or set aside a final judgment delivered by a sister division of the same court and invoked his right under Section 395(3) of the constitution that makes it mandatory for the Court of Appeal to make a reference to the Supreme Court for interpretation of such a substantial question of law before taking any decision on the matter.
The petition before the National Judicial Council arose from the fixing of February 23, 2010 by the Court of Appeal, Sokoto for judgment on the matter while the motion for reference to the Supreme Court was still pending as well as the inclusion of the wife of a prominent politician in the panel of judges.
