Fayose asks Ekiti court to hands off case

Ekiti State Governor-elect, Mr. aAyodele Fayose yesterday told an Ado-Ekiti High Court to transfer the case brought against him by a socio-cultural organisation,  E-eleven and Citizen Party to the Federal High Court, saying it lacks jurisdiction to try him.

Fayose, through his lead counsel, Mr. Raji Ahmed (SAN), said the case had to be transferred to the Federal High Court since it involved the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the national secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ahmed said the case in which the plaintiffs sought to stop his client from contesting the June 21 governorship election was already belated.

According to him, the case had been overtaken by events as the election had been contested and won. He added that the case filed at the court was addressed to Abuja addresses of  INEC and PDP, that were joined in the suit, and should therefore be struck out.

But lead counsel to the Citizen’s Party, Norrison Quakers (SAN), opposed the defendant’s counsel, saying the case still had substance, regardless of whether the election had been conducted.

Also, counsel to E-Eleven, Mr. Raufu Balogun, insisted that the court had jurisdiction to try the suit, and should therefore not strike it out.

Citing Section 31 of the Electoral Act, he urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s counsel’s submission, which he said lacked merit.

Justice Olusegun Ogunyemi later adjourned the case till July 18 for ruling.

Both the E-Eleven and Citizens Party had gone to court to challenge the eligibility of Fayose to contest the June 21 governorship election and asked the court to stop him from participating in the exercise.