Abeokuta – The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Ogun State, Thursday, filled an appeal before the Ibadan appellate court against the Saturday, 14th September 2019 judgement of the Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal.
The decision to appeal the judgement, according to the Spokesperson of the party in the State, Olumide Balogun, was reached after a number of questionable judicial proceedings was brought to the knowledge of the party by its counsel.
Balogun said after instructive findings, the party and its governorship candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, have come to the conclusion that there was a miscarriage of justice in the case decided by the Justice Yusuff Halilu led panel.
The party said its decision to appeal was to protect the integrity of the judicial system which has been allegedly compromised by the tribunal judgement.
The party argued that the Tribunal ignored authorities provided by the party and relied on a court of appeal judgement in ‘Baruwa vs Dapo Abiodun’ to dismiss its a petition.
The party said, “Although the party has decided that it will allow the court of appeal to review those worrisome discoveries and consider the merits of our case.
“As a result of these instructive findings, the APM and its gubernatorial candidate have come to the conclusion that there is a miscarriage of justice in the case we instituted on the Ogun State gubernatorial election.
“We have a duty to appeal the judgement to protect the integrity of our judiciary and restore the mandate freely given by the good people of Ogun State to our party.
“We shall be approaching the court of appeal to establish our case that there has been a miscarriage of justice and that the integrity of our judiciary has been compromised. We shall provide the details of our claims in court.”
The Party also faulted the claim by Justice Halilu that he has never know anything about Ogun State and that he had no prior knowledge of 2019 election in Ogun State.
It said justice Halilu had given a favourable ruling to Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, in a related matter after the botched primaries of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It further alleged that Justice Halilu was aware of Baruwa’s case which was presented, allegedly under pretence, by Abiodun’s counsel as an exhibit during the tribunal.
According to it, Justice Halilu not only heard Baruwa’s case, he came to Ogun State to base his judgement on the matter he had earlier adjudicated upon.
AbdurRafiu Baruwa had in a suit tagged FCT/HC/CV/555/2018 challenged the nomination of Abiodun as the candidate of the APC.
