Ogun tribunal adjourns indefinitely on Amosun’s petition

Olayinka Olukoya, Abeokuta - 25.04.2008

The Ogun State election petition tribunal on Thursday adjourned indefinitely, the hearing of the petition filed by the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, challenging the victory of Governor Gbenga Daniel.

This came on the heels of a letter written by Amosun to the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, urging him to constitute a new panel to hear his petition.

At the resumed session of the panel, the chairman, Justice Haruna Tsammani, asked counsel for Governor Daniel, Chief Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), and that of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oluyele Delana, if they were aware of a letter addressed to Senator Amosun by the Court of Appeal President.

Both counsel expressed surprise on the development, saying that they were not served copies of the letter. This threw the court into confusion but Justice Tsammani called the counsel to order, saying that they were not expected to raise any motion as the issue was an “administrative matter.”

Amosun had, in the letter, dated April 11, 2008 alleged that the panel showed bias to all petitions filed before the tribunal by the ANPP.