Osun tribunal dismisses AC’s application

Tunde Oyekola, Osogbo - 18.03.2008

The election petition tribunal sitting in Osogbo on Monday dismissed an application for a stay of proceeding in a case challenging the declaration of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the winner of the April 14, 2007 election.

Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, the AC governorship candidate, is challenging the result of the election declared by INEC in the state.

The application for stay of proceeding was sequel to the appeal filed by the AC candidate at the appeal court on the judgment of the tribunal which ruled out the appearance of Mr. Adrian Forty, a forensic expert, to testify before the tribunal.

Counsel for the AC, Mr. Kola Awodein (SAN), last week filed an application before the tribunal for a stay of proceedings in the governorship suit filed by Aregbesola pending the determination of the appeal on the case.

Ruling on the application, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Thomas Naron, dismissed it for lacking merit.

According to Justice Naron, the application could not succeed because it was not filed at the pre-hearing notice.

Justice Naron said though the parties had the right to file an interlocutory appeal on any issue relating to the case before the tribunal, such appeal should not be an impediment to the proceedings.

He adjourned the case till April 7.