By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Bartholomew Madukwe

Lagos—Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal yesterday granted prayers of the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state’s gubernatorial poll, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, to inspect election materials and other items used in the April 28th governorship election.

The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Siraju, who granted the prayers after the plea of petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Clement Onwenmunor, also urged counsel to make use of the tribunal’s authority in requesting for materials and not file ex-parte motion.

Agbaje, through his counsel, had requested the tribunal to allow him certify documents used in the said election.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Lagos State National and State Houses of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal, Justice Sylvanus Oriji, warned lawyers that the tribunal would not allow delaying strategies.

The warning came during the inaugural sitting of the tribunal, which has as members Justices K. Dabo and Kadi Yusuf at Ikeja.

Oriji noted that election petitions were delicate and sensitive to handle because they must be heard and determined within 180 days as specified by Section 285 (6) of the 1999 Constitution.

According to him: “It is now established that any judgment delivered by an Election Tribunal in an election petition after 180 days from the date of filing is a nullity.”

The judge implored the lawyers to give the tribunal the necessary cooperation at the pre-hearing conferences and throughout the hearing of the petitions.

“Without your co-operation, it will be difficult for the tribunal to succeed in its onerous task to conclude all the pending election petitions within 180 days as stipulated by the Constitution.

“In this regard, the tribunal will not tolerate any action or omission (or strategy) aimed at delaying or frustrating the expeditious hearing and determination of the petitions,” he said.

Oriji urged the lawyers to be guided by the rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners and show respect to the Bench and their colleagues while conducting their matters before the tribunal.

Advising the media to report the proceedings of the tribunal accurately, Oriji said they should contact the tribunal’s secretary when in doubt and maintained that the tribunal would discharge its responsibilities without fear or favour.