AREGBESOLA RAISES ALARM OVER PLANS TO SACK HIM

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has raised the alarm alleging that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is planning to upturn his victory through the help of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Addressing a press conference on his behalf in Lagos yesterday, one of his lawyers, Mr. Kunle Adegoke said 'PDP plan in Osun State to upturn the decision of the Appeal Court confirming the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the April 14, 2007 elections have been uncovered.'

According to him, 'the agents of destruction in the state, in an unparallel desperation in the PDP have perfected their diabolical plans to file an application at the Supreme Court for a review of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Aregbesola and Oyinlola.'

Adegoke, who is a managing partner at Muiz Banire Chambers alleged further that 'the agents have procured the services of some handlers in the Supreme Court who are deceiving them that the same procedure used to arrest the decision of the Court of Appeal in Sokoto gubernatorial election petition could still be deployed to upturn the decision of the Appeal Court in the Aregbesola and Oyinlola case.'

He alleged further that 'they have therefore briefed their lawyers to approach the Supreme Court with a motion on notice praying 'for an order reviewing the judgement of the Court of Appeal in Aregbesola versus Oyinlola case and set aside the said judgement delivered on November 26, 2010.'

Adegoke added that 'they are also praying for an order nullifying the said judgement and reinstate Oyinlola into the office of the Governor of Osun State and whereof his tenure had expired before the determination of the motion on notice, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately coduct a fresh gubernatorial election in Osun State.'

The lawyer then reminded that 'it is known to all that the decision of the Appeal Court on gubernatorial election petitions under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2007, Section 246 thereof, is final,' pointing out that 'no appeal lies anywhere, not even to the Supreme Court.'

He averred that 'the present amendment done in 2010 cannot be used to vest jurisdiction in the Supreme Court to dabble into a matter in respect of which the Appeal is the final authority as such amendment cannot be applied retroactively.'

Adegoke therefore stated that it was considered imperative 'to implore their Lordship of the Supreme Court not to allow themselves, as revered officers of the highest temple of justice to be drawn into this diabolical agenda of the PDP who are hell-bent on destroying the entity called Nigeria to satisfy their evil gusto for power.'