Smart Adeyemi laments as Tribunal sets-up fresh panel, continues hearing today

[contextly_auto_sidebar id=”wTzYpRipKDokkTwvSjd4f4NULIm8LI4J”]

Kogi West election Tribunal sitting in Lokoja on Monday August 31 reconvened for the rehearing of the petition of former Senator of Kogi West Senatorial district Smart Adeyemi whose petition suffered another setback as the tribunal ordered a fresh panel.
dino vs smart

Senator Adeyemi had install a petition challenging election of Senator Dino Melaye and got repreave from the Appeal Court for a rehearing after his case was struck out.

Thereafter, Dino Melaye’s respondent requested the disqualification of the former tribunal panel due to lack of jurisdiction to hear the case and urged the named fresh panel by the Appeal Court be installed for fair-hearing.

Ani (esq) made reference to the protest letter to the president of the Court of Appeal, objecting all proceedings as there was no written notification on why the decision of the Appeal Court was upturned by changing the supposed chairman of the panel as directed by the Appeal court ruling.

However, the tribunal panel heeded to the respondent, F.C. Ani on Monday and sacked itself. The panel approved the petition hearing be transfered to Hon. the fresh panel headed by Justice Akom B. Ikpeme.

A step that displeased the petitioner who lamented that action of the tribunal to transfer the case to fresh panel was in clear attempt to frustrate the hearing of the petition.

Meanwhile, the Ikpeme headed fresh panel was ordered to begin to further hearing on the case on Tuesday, September 1 and begin study of the petition files and documents to allow for fairness to all concern.

For Senator Smart Adeyemi, hopes of returning to the Red Chambers dim as time runs on his petition hearing with less 35 days to go.