By Dayo Johnson, Dapo Akinrefon & Ikechukwu Nnochiri
A THREE-man panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, yesterday, withdrew from all cases relating to the Ondo governorship election, following allegation that they have been compromised.

The Justice Hannatu Sankey-led panel based their decision on a petition written against them by factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State, Prince Biyi Poroye, who is of the Alli Modu-Sheriff  camp.

Poroye had in the said petition, which he forwarded to the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, alleged that the panel collected huge sums of money from the Ahmed Markarfi-led faction of the PDP.. He said the bribe was paid for the appellate court panel to vacate the judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP candidate for the November 26  poll.

Primary  election

Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim

INEC had on the strength of the High Court verdict, substituted Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, who it initially recognised as PDP candidate for the election, with Mr. Ibrahim. While Jegede emerged from primary election that was sanctioned by the Markarfi-led faction of the PDP, Ibrahim secured his ticket from the Ali Modu-Sheriff- led group.

At the resumed sitting on a joint motion filed by Markafi and Senator Ben Obi, the head of the appellate court panel, Justice Sankey, drew attention of counsel to all the parties to the petition she said was served on them, on Monday.

Justice Sankey noted that the petitioner alleged that it was owing to the bribe that the panel okayed speedy hearing of the appeal before it.

She said that Poroye, who is the 1st Respondent before the court, in a verifying affidavit he deposed in support of the petition, equally queried the rationale behind the constitution of a special panel to hear appeal on a pre-election matter.

More so, Justice Sankey said it was “highly regrettable” that the Ondo PDP chairman alleged that she became very poor having spent so much to treat herself of a sickness that befell her five years back. “He specifically alleged my current state of poverty has opened me to corrupt influence”, the judge stated.

Another member of the panel, Justice E. Agim, described Poroye’s action as “an act that is criminal and most embarrassing to the sanctity of the judiciary,” adding that the petition was aimed at obstructing the course of justice using “dubious allegations.”

Counsel to all the parties said they were not aware of the petition, even as they took turns to condemn Poroye’s action. Counsel to the appellants, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court to hand the petitioner over to security agencies to substantiate his allegations.

On his part, Poroye’s lawyer, Dr. Alex Iziyon, SAN, described the petition as “very embarrassing,” saying: “My lords, I am speechless here. I have no knowledge of the petition. At least, he should have taken me along. I owe a duty to this court first and foremost. I do not support the petition, it is very embarrassing to me.”

After the justices stood down the matter for 10 minutes to hold a meeting in their chamber, they came out and announced their withdrawal from not only the instant appeal but also in four other sister cases.

“Ordinarily, since no fact was placed before this court to show likelihood of bias and since the respondent has dissociated himself from the petition, we would have been minded to continue with this matter.

“Though there are several legal authorities that will support this panel to continue, one of which is that a judge does not upon such mere allegations throw in the towel and abandon a case, however, we consider it more desirable to recuse ourselves at this stage. All the files are now sent back to the President of the Court of Appeal for re-assignment”, Justice Sankey held. Before the decision was announced, the panel sought for Poroye who was in the court earlier but quickly left immediately the issue of his petition was raised.

It is a plot to deny Jegede justice — Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who lambasted Jimoh Ibrahim and described him as a spoiler being used to destabilise PDP in Ondo State, said the withdrawal of the judges is plot to deny jegede justice in the matter.

Speaking on a radio programme in Akure, the governor said it was delay tactics by the cabals working to shut out Jegede from contesting the governorship election.

Fayose said that he was not surprised by the development in the Court of Appeal on the PDP governorship matter adding that “ it is their stock in trade.

He fingered the cabals in the presidency as the forces working with the INEC to shut out Jegede from contesting the election.

According to him those working to make sure Jegede doesn’t contest the coming election know that he would win that is why they are jittery.

The governor however asked the people of the state not to lose hope as “the light will always overcome darkness. There will surely be light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a phase  that will end well. I don’t want the people of Ondo state to lose sleep or be distracted.”

We’re not distracted — Ondo PDP

Indeed, the Ondo PDP, yesterday, said it is “neither distracted nor would it succumb to the time worn tactics of judicial ambush” as a result of the withdrawal of the judges

The party also called for the immediate arrest of Biyi Poroye, who made allegations against the panel members and be made to substantiate his claims.

Ondo PDP Director of Publicity,  Mr Ayo Fadaka, in a statement said the withdrawal of the Panel headed by Honorable Justice Jumai Sankey was “predicated on the specious and unproven allegations of corruption and other sundry charges by the Jimoh Ibrahim group against the panel.”

“Certainly the petition was a desperate last ditch effort to prevent the panel from carrying out justice… We alert Nigerians of the grave damage such irresponsible under-hand tactics as being deployed by Jimoh Ibrahim and his cohorts could wrought on our fledgling democracy. ”

This attitude to say the least is absolutely irresponsible and obviously calculated to forestall prompt adjudication on the matter” the statement said.

The party maintained that it is not disillusioned and distracted and shall not succumb to “this time worn tactics of judicial ambush.”

It urged “genuine PDP members to keep faith, remain resolute and steady the course in support of the candidate of the party, Eyitayo Jegede because “we must not lose sight of the fact we are clearly in the majority in Ondo State. Our strength lies in our votes and no court, no litigation, no delay tactics can determine the direction and beneficiary of your votes.”