An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure has fixed June 22 for ruling in a suit challenging the eligibility of the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Temitayo Osoba.
The suit filed by Dayo Akinlaja (SAN) bothers on extension of time and memorandum of appearance for the Acting Chief Judge in the case instituted by an Akure-based lawyer, Femi Emodamori.
Femi Emmanuel-Emodamori had initially given Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, (SAN) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) seven days ultimatum to remove Osoba from office over an alleged age falsification and for over staying in office in violation of provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
At the resumed hearing of the case, Genevieve Okoye told the Ondo State High Court that applications for extension of time and memorandum of appearance as agreed upon during the last sitting had been filed.
Okoye stressed the need for speedy trial of the case, saying unnecessary technicalities should be avoided by all parties in the suit.
She said the court needed to determine the matter as fast as possible in order to dissolve the rumours and impressions being created in the public.
Counsel to the State Government, Batife Phillips said he withdrew his appearance for Osoba to enable Akinlaja take over within the stipulated time.
He said the cases were before the court and he would not want to pre-empt the court on them.
On his part, the complainant, Femi Emodamori, after announcing appearance for himself, told the court that he had filed a written preliminary objection against the competence of Dayo Akinlaja’s application.
He prayed the court to strike out Akinlaja’s application to appear for the Acting Chief Judge because it was filed out of time.
Citing several court orders, Emodamori explained that even the application for extension of time comes with penalties which the court cannot waive.
He told journalists that he suspected that the defendant would not want the case to be heard expeditiously, insisting that if he could not get justice at the high court, he would proceed to higher courts.
It was after listening to both parties that the trial judge – Justice Aderemi Adegoroye – adjourned ruling on the application for extension of time and sought for cooperation among the parties in order to allow for speedy adjudication of the case.
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