The Nigeria Court of Appeal in Abuja has on Friday, March 24, overruled the verdict of the Tribunal that sacked Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun State.
The appellate court on the said day announced its unanimous decision made by a panel of three justices, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal. It stated that Adeleke’s appeal against the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal’s judgement was very likely to gain victory from the onset based on the merits.
The court, in addition to overruling the Tribunal, charged Gboyega Oyetola the sum of N500,000 as compensation to the All Progressive Congress and its candidate.
During the ruling, the justice settled the prevalence of proof made to establish a case of over-voting in the Governorship election that gave Adeleke victory. The court also maintained that “the party alleging non-compliance with the electoral act must prove its case without merely relying on the weakness of the other party.”
Delivering judgment, Justice Mohammed Shaibu overruled the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal that cancelled the results of the July Governorship polls.
The Appeal Court panel that handled the case revoked the Tribunal’s decision to strip Adeleke of the Certificate of Return and hand it to his predecessor and APC governorship candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, when they ruled in his favour.
However, this judgement was set aside by the Court of Appeal on Friday, March 24.
