A Court of Appeal in Sokoto has disqualified
themselves from hearing the case on the qualification of Zamfara State All Progressives Congress (APC) to
field candidates for its governorship election.
The presiding judge, Justice Ahmad Belgore, ruled
that based on the allegations in the media and issues raised by counsel to
Senator Kabiru Marafa, Muhammad Nuhu, the court would not continue with the
case.
The lead judge urged all parties in the case to wait for the
constitution of a new panel that would consider the matter.
According to the judge, "In recognition of the magnitude
of allegations and present situation in judiciary as well as the country, judges
surrendered that the President of the Court of Appeal should constitute new
panel to entertain the matter.”
Counsel to the respondents submitted that some of
his clients had accused the justices of receiving $3 million to compromise the
case.
Earlier, counsel to the appellant, Ishiyaku Dikko
(SAN), had applied to withdraw the entire appeal, which was rejected by the
court on the grounds that he ought to wait until the slated date for
substantive hearing.
Meanwhile, a High Court in Zamfara State had
recognised the primary elections held by the APC in the state and declared that
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should accept the party’s
candidates for the elections.
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