• It’s judicial rascality –Fayose’s faction

From Wole Balogun, Ado-Ekiti

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise a faction of the state’s Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) allegedly loyal to Senator Buruji Kashamu.

This was in spite of an appeal for stay of proceedings the defendants earlier filed at the state’s arm of the Appeal Court, which suggested that the case be adjourned till February 1 when the court will rule on it.

A mild drama also played out when counsel to the party’s faction loyal to Governor Ayodele Fayose, Mr. Bimpe Olatemiju was restrained by the presiding judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo from leaving the courtroom before he (judge) delivered the judgment, in spite of the counsel’s appeal to be excused from the court.

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Olatemiju had informed the court that there was an appeal for stay of proceedings pending at the Appeal Court division of the state capital and a letter by Chief Mike Ozekhome, also part of the legal team for the defendants.

The counsel had urged the judgment to stay proceedings on the case pending the determination of the appeal by the Appeal Court.

But, Justice Taiwo, apparently furious at the development, held that Olatemiju’s submission was an attempt to arrest the judgment of the court and insisted that he cannot elevate a motion on notice, a letter written by Ozekhome to the court  appealing for stay of proceeding on the case.

Thereafter, the judge granted the reliefs sought by Williams Ajayi-led faction of the party, to wit, that his faction be recognised as the authentic PDP executive of the state by INEC.

Reacting to the judgment, Olatemiju, who described Justice Taiwo’s ruling as “judicial rascality,” said he was pained by the fact that the judge ‘detained’ him in the court by threatening to report him when he appealed to be excused from the court before the delivery of the judgment.