Updated: Appeal Court dismisses suit challenging Buhari’s educational qualifications

The Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed a suit filed against President Muhammadu Buhari, challenging his qualification for the 2019 presidential election.

A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal presided over by Justice Atinuke Akomolafe-Wilson, had on Monday, July 8, reserved judgement in the suit after listening to the argument canvassed by counsel to parties in the matter.

Kalu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris had approached the appellate court to nullify and set aside the Judgment of the of the Federal High Court.

The trial court declined to hear their suit instituted to challenge the educational qualification of President Buhari before the conduct of the 2019 general election.

The appellants in their appeal are asking the appellate court to reverse the judgement of Justice Ahmed Mohammed on the grounds that the processes filed by Buhari and used to strike out their suit were not competent.

They, therefore, urged the Court of Appeal to assume jurisdiction over the suit and grant all the reliefs sought at the Federal High Court but which were refused.

They also prayed for an order of court directing INEC to remove Buhari’s name as a candidate of APC.

They urged the court to grant another order restraining Buhari from parading himself as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election and also APC from recognising Buhari as a candidate.

The Federal High Court had, on May 2, declined to grant the request of the appellants on the grounds that the suit was not filed within the time allowed by law and, therefore, sustained the preliminary objection raised by Buhari at the hearing.

But not satisfied, the appellants are now asking the Court of Appeal to grant their reliefs because they are not challenging the primary election of APC as erroneously held by the lower court. (NAN)

Leave a Reply