Lawyers to the litigants in the suit challenging the eligibility of the Ekiti State governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over allegations of threats to life and violation of their rights to practise their profession.
In a petition addressed to the Executive Secretary of the commission, dated September 29, 2014 and obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, the litigants., through their counsel, Norrisom Quakers (SAN) and M. J. Onigbanjo (SAN), accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of organising the thugs that invaded the Ekiti High Court premises on September 22 and the alleged attack on Justice Ogunyemi and the claimants, who were in court.
“We hereby urge you to use your good office and wherewithal at your disposal to investigate this matter, with a view to unearthing those behind this shameful display of banditry and gross violation of human rights, with a view to prosecuting and bringing them to justice,” the petition stated.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State PDP has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Maryam Aloma-Mukhtar, alleging that there were plans by the state Chief Judge to connive with the outgoing governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to abort the inauguration of Fayose on October 16.
The party, in a letter entitled, “Another Judicial Coup Plotted to Avert the Swearing-in of the Governor-elect of Ekiti State,” signed by the state secretary of the party, Dr Tope Aluko, and the state publicity secretary, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, in Ado-Ekiti, on Sunday, claimed that it had it “on good authority that plans were on to give accelerated hearing to some suits challenging the eligibility of Fayose for the governorship election, despite the notice of appeal and the stay of proceedings filed in respect of the suits.”
Fayose had challenged the assumption of jurisdiction by Justice Olusegun Ogunremi of an Ado Ekiti High Court on the matter and also filed a stay of proceedings on the hearing of the substantive suit.
“My Lord, on September 28, 2014, the governor-elect of Ekiti State personally wrote a letter to you, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, raising fears about the attempts of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State to frustrate the swearing-in of the governor-elect of Ekiti State produced by our party.
“To our knowledge, My Lord is yet to react to that letter. Meanwhile, we are authoritatively informed of another desperate move to obtain a ‘black market injunction’ from an Ekiti State High Court, restraining the Chief Judge from swearing-in the governor-elect on October 16, 2014.
“Our source authoritatively informed us that the E-11 case in suits nos HAD/51/2014 and HAD/52/2014 are to be given accelerated hearing between Wednesday, October 8 and Friday, October 10, or thereabout, in a way that a ‘black market injunction’ will be secured to restrain the Chief Judge from swearing-in the governor-elect, after the court might have been re-opened, following the NJC directive,” the letter read.
The party called on the CJN to call the Ekiti Chief Judge to order. Tribune
