A Federal High Court sitting in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital, has adjourned the case between Bashir Sheriff Machina and Senate President Ahmad Lawan till September 12, 2022.
The defendants in the suit – Lawan and the All Progressive Congress (APC) – had filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
Presiding judge, Justice Fadimatu Murtala Aminu, deferred ruling on the matter after counsel to the parties requested for time to submit their responses on the originating summons and the preliminary objections by the claimants.
Addressing reporters outside the court, counsel to Machina, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) said: “We are here before the Federal High Court in Damaturu in respect of a case filed by Bashir Shariff Machina against the APC and Ahmad Lawan for Yobe North senatorial ticket.
“The matter came up today. The defendants have not filed their processes except they have filed notices of preliminary objections. We were served with the notices this morning.
“The court has given them time to file their counter-affidavits to the originating process. So, the matter could not go on because they are not yet ready. As soon as they file their responses, we are expected to file ours as well.
“The matter is, therefore, adjourned till September 12, 2022, on which day all the processes and responses would have been in and the matter will go on for hearing, by the grace of God.”
On the substantive matter before the court, Bawa said Machina was asking the court to stop APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from sending the name of Lawan, who he said did not participate in the primary election.
“We are asking the court in our originating summons to declare that the APC cannot send the name of Ahmad Lawan, who didn’t participate in the primary election of the APC for Yobe North Senatorial District. We are saying the court should direct the APC to send the name of …Machina, and INEC should be directed to accept and fill him as the candidate of the party for Yobe North Senatorial District,” Bawa added.
Counsel to Lawan declined to comment on the matter when reporters prompted him to do so.
Credit : THE NATION.
