The Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC over the granting of exparte orders by two judges of the Bauchi State High Court contrary to procedures and conventions.
The petitions, obtained by ait.live are dated December 20, 2021, and written against Justices Mu’azu Abubakar and Kunaza N. Hamidu. The petitions were submitted to the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and NJC Chairman, Justice Muhammad Tanko on December 21, 2021.
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The petitioners, Umar Jibo who is the APC Chairman-elect in Dass Local Government Area of and Babayo Aliyu Misau, the State Chairman-elect and his executive members, alleged that the judges granted exparte orders that would last till hearing and determination of the substantive suit without giving them fair hearing.
According to the petitioners, “By law, exparte orders are only granted to preserve the rest and last only for 14 days.”
They noted that in the instance cases, the two Justices separately gave orders in the suits number BA/294/2021 and BA/211/2021, respectively, which affect their swearing in, since both orders separately would last up to the hearing and determination of the suits file by aggrieved persons over their victory.
They then appealed to the NJC to do justice to their claims against the two judges.
The two judges of the Bauchi State High Court separately restrained the APC National Caretaker Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State and the party from inaugurating the Babayo Misau-led state executive members who were elected recently and the Umar Jibo-led executives of the party in Dass LGA.
The court also restrained the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and their proxies, agents, cohorts and representatives in whatever capacity from administering the oath of office on Misau.
The court further restrained Misau and those who emerged as APC leaders in the state along with him from “parading themselves in whatsoever manner or means and or acting in whatever capacities or names called as Bauchi State executive officers of APC pending the hearing of the substantive suit filed”.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)