As Kogi indigenes, home and abroad, wait anxiously for the Supreme Court verdict on the protracted Kogi state governorship historic legal tussle, there is one sure way the apex court can save Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s neck from the much expected hammer.
Premised on the fact that the decision of the Court of Appeal was delivered on Thursday, 4th August, 2016, the time frame stipulated by the constitution for Supreme Court will lapse on Sunday, 2nd October, 2016. This is just 19 days from today.
The Supreme Court has up till Sunday, 2nd October, 2016 to hear and determine the appeals arising from the decision of the Court of Appeal. This is pursuant to the sixty (60) days allowed for the hearing and determination of appeals by the provisions of section 285(7) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The easiest route for the apex court to save Governor Bello’s ass is not to deliver judgement between now and Friday, 30th September, 2016.
Supreme Court will not sit on Saturday, 1st October, 2016 which is a public holiday, the court will not sit on the 2nd October which is Sunday and cannot sit on Monday 3rd October, 2016 which will, as usual, be declared public holiday by the Federal Government. Once the Supreme court fails to rule before Friday, 30th September, 2016, the decision of the Appeal Court on the matter becomes final! This, undoubtedly, is the laziest way to save Yahaya Bello from the much expected ruling.
However, if the Supreme court judges choose to deliver judgement before Friday, 30th September, 2016, they will be faced with the herculean task of defending the constitution of Nigeria. The vexed Kogi Governorship legal tussle is a direct duel for superiority between the Nigerian Constitution and the INEC Guideline.
I will stop here temporarily with the first lines of the second stanza of the Nigerian national anthem:
O God of creation
Direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right…
Thank you.
– Adamu Ojonugwa writes from Lokoja.
