The Supreme Court yesterday fixed October 31, 2011 for judgment in the multiple appeals pending before it in respect of a? petition on the outcome of the Borno Governorship election.
Result of that April 26 election is a subject of litigation before the Borno State? Governorship Election Petition Tribunal by? the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Candidate,? Alhaji Mohammed Goni??? challenging? the victory? of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) candidate,? Alhaji Kashim Shettima in the? April 26 governorship election.
Reacting to the development, Governor Shettima said that? “the Supreme Court is the ultimate arbiter on all judicial issues in the country and it is peopled by men and women of impeccable credentials and we believe justice will be done”.
Prior to the fixing of the judgment date, the court had noted that the reason it would adduce for the judgment might not be made available on the same day in view of the urgency demanded by the appeals.
Already, political observers are becoming worried? over the delay in? hearing? the election petition in Maiduguri? because there are just about?? two weeks remaining for the 180 days fixed by the Electoral Act 2010?? for the? election petition to lapse.?
The petition? filed by Goni against Shetima’s? victory?? is still at the pre-hearing stage.
Specifically, the apex court will, on that date, resolve the following consolidated appeals: SC/332/2011, SC/352/2011 and SC/333/2011 to enable the parties to know the way forward in? respect of the election petition entitled, “BO/EPT/GOV/1/2011 which gave rise to these interlocutory appeals before the Supreme Court.
Governor Shetima in his appeal named SC/332/2011, asked the apex court to set aside “an interim order stopping the trial tribunal from proceeding to deliver its ruling earlier slated for September 20, 2011”.
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