Following the allegation of bribery against them, the Court of Appeal panel of judges on Tuesday pulled out of the case involving the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, factional governorship candidate for Ondo state, Eyitayo Jegede.
Jegede had gone to the appeal court to seek redress over a Federal High Court ruling, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to replace him in the upcoming Ondo election.
Recall that the nation’s electoral umpire had INEC recently replaced Jegede with businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP governorship candidate in the November 26 governorship election
Reacting to the decision, Jegede expressed optimism that the appellate court would upturn the ruling.
The Head of the panel, Jummai Sankey, during Tuesday’s sitting announced the decision of the judges to pull out of the case, saying Biyi Okporoye, Chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP in Ondo State, had written a petition, accusing them of receiving bribe.
She explained that the panel became aware of the petition addressed to the President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa and the National Judicial Commission, NJC, on Monday.
Sankey disclosed that the case file has been sent back to Bulkachuwa for re-assignment.
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