3 Senior Advocates hail judgment

Akeem Nafiu, Lagos - 27.02.2008

Three Senior Advocates of Nigeria have hailed the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed the application of both Major General Muhammadu Buhari of the ANPP and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the AC against the election of President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.

In a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune after the ruling, counsel to President Yar’Adua, Chief Wole Olanipekun(SAN), thanked God for giving his client victory at the tribunal.

He stated that the judgement represented what was placed before the court and that what the judges did was to apply the law to come up with the judgement.

“The judgement demonstrates the fact that law is different from fictions, it is factual and practical’’, he said.

Also reacting, former Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Akinjide(SAN), observed that the judgement was in accordance with the jurisprudence of the election law.

“What the court said are in accordance with the principles laid down throughout the English Speaking world. I have no doubt that the judgement will be welcomed in all English Speaking world,’’ he said.

According to Chief Akinjide, “there were two critical elements in the case and these are; substantial compliance and the doctrine of consequence.

He said although the judgement did not talk on the doctrine of consequence, it dealt so much with substantial compliance.

In the same vein, Mr. Yussuf Ali (SAN) also hailed the judgement, saying it was based on facts and not on rumour mongering.