Dons Eze
RIVERS CRISIS: I DO NOT SEE THE POSSIBLITY OF APPEAL COURT DECISION BEING UPTURNED – SAN
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN Kunle Adegoke, has alleged that it is unlikely for the Supreme Court to overturn the appeal court’s decision, given the fundamental issues considered by the Appeal Court panel.
He stated that the appellants’ role in the high court proceedings was taken into account, and that if the Governor Fubara faction had claimed not to have been served with the processes, the outcome might have been different. He further suggested that it would be prudent to acknowledge the court of appeal’s pronouncement. He stated that the parties involved should converge and accept the decision, allowing the House of Assembly to continue its operations while the court determines the validity of the decamped members’ membership.
He said in an interview with Arise TV, ‘This issue is simply a matter of ego and political interest. The individuals involved are dictating everything that is happening, and that is why it would be better at this stage to let us take it that the court of appeal has pronounced. Why would it not be possible for parties to come together and say, ‘At this stage, let us follow the decision of the court of appeal’? Let us allow the House of Assembly, as it was initially composed, to continue its operations while the issue of whether those who have decamped are still valid members of the House of Assembly is determined by the court.
I mean, this is yet to be determined by the court before which the matter is pending. But I do not see the possibility of the appeal court decision being upturned by the Supreme Court, especially considering the fundamental issues considered by the sound panel that delivered that decision. They took into consideration what role the appellants played at the level of the high court when the matter came up. Assuming the appellants could claim that they were not served with the processes that originated the case, it would have been a different thing.”
