The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo state has petitioned President Mohamadu Buhari, the National Judicial Council, and the Attorney-General of the Federation over what it described as the unethical conduct and criminal conspiracy to subvert the cause of justice in the suit bothering on the PDP candidature in the November 26 gubernatorial election.
In two separate petitions against Justice E.O Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, Olagoke Fakunle (SAN) and R A Oluyede Esq, also forwarded to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges and the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committees, as well as President Buhari and the Attorney General, the PDP accued Justice Abang of unethical conducts in his handling of the suit before him, which was originated by Prince Biyi Poroye and 8 others against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP.
In the petition against Justice Abang signed by the Ondo PDP Chairman, Engr Clement Faboyede, the party accused Justice Abang of complicity in the political scheming against the PDP.
The party insisted that the entire proceedings of the suit being handled by Abang “was recklesly contrived, planned and executed by Justice EO Abang , Olagoke Fakunle, (SAN) and R A Oluyede Esq and on behalf of forces working in concert against the interest of the PDP”.
Tendering documents marked Annexture 1,11, 111, 1V,V, and V1 to prove that actions were deliberately planned against it by the trio, the petitioner reported that Fakunle and Oluyede as pointed out in Annexture 1, ” an originating summon dated 7th of June 2016 on behalf of the Plaintiffs was written by Fakunle and taken out by the same Fakunle for the plaintiff, in the course of proceeding and to enable Justice Abang , Oluyede and Fakunle perfect their plan, Olagoke Fakunle shifted position unethically to represent PDP and then conceded to the relief claimed by the plaintiff at the hearing of the originating summons.”
The petitioner added that “in its judgement of 29th June 2016 on the originating summons, Justice Abang granted some restraining orders in favour of the plaintiff. The said judgement of 29th June 2016 relates to 2019 general election; It has nothing to do with the 2016 Governorship election of Ondo state. As a matter of fact, no reference was made to the 2016 governorship election in the said judgement.”
Explaining that the Ondo PDP held its primary election where Mr Eyitayo Jegede SAN emerged winner, the Petitioner said it was taken aback when “towards the evening of 14th October 2016 the social media was awashed with the information that the Hon. Justice Abang granted an order directing the INEC to substitute the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede with Barr. Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho as the candidate of the PDP in respect of the 2016 Governorship election in Ondo state.
“On further enquiry, we found out that there was a motion on notice dated 29th of September 2016 signed by one Clarissa Adaugo Ebuzeme (Miss) of TRLPLAW law firm brought on behalf of the plaintiffs ostensibly for the enforcement of the ruling of 29th June 2016 in which the Applicants sought among other reliefs for an order requiring the 1st defendant, alleged contemnor to reject and jettison any other nomination forms submitted by any persons apart from the 1st and 2nd plaintiffs and applicants except Jimoh Ibrahim Folorunsho as the candidate for the 2nd defendant for the said governorship election.”
Driving home its proof of conspiracy in the matter, the petitioner said “when the application which gave rise to the said order of 14th Ocober, 2016 was brought , heard and granted, the judge and the counsels were aware that Eyitayo Jegede’s name had been forwarded to the INEC by the PDP as its candidate, yet Justice Abang, Fakunle and Oluyede proceeded with the matter without affording Eyitayo Jegede the opportunity of being heard in the matter.”
Alleging grave injustice against it in the matter, the PDP sought, among other prayers that on the weighty allegations of unethical misconduct set earlier, it “wants Olagoke Fakunle and R A Oluyede’s involvement in the suit investigated, particularly on the order of 14th October directing INEC to substitute the name of Ibrahim who was not a party to the suit for the PDP candidate.”
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