INEC's Appeal on Five Governor's Tenure Subsists

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not discontinued its appeal against the verdict of His Lordship, Justice Adamu Bello, in the case on the tenure of five state governors. The records of INEC's appeal have been transmitted to the Court of Appeal, which has commenced proceedings in the case.

This clarification is necessary to correct the confusion on the substantive appeal by INEC and on a Motion for Stay of Execution of Justice Bello's judgment filed by a lawyer, Dame Carol Ajie, who is neither the Commission's counsel nor under brief by INEC.   

Dame Ajie's motion was filed at her instance without instruction from INEC. She only sought for permission to file processes on behalf of the Commission. No such permission was granted when it came to the notice of the Commission that Dame Carol Ajie had filed Notion on Notice for Stay of Execution. She was immediately directed to withdraw all processes filed on behalf of the Commission. Besides, the Commission had already briefed other Counsel who as at then had filed the substantive appeal.  

For avoidance of doubt, INEC's appeal against the verdict of Justice Bello is not the same as the Motion for Stay of Execution of Judgment filed by Dame Ajie and the two should not be mixed up.   

Kayode R. Idowu
  Chief Press Secretary to Hon. Chairman