Tribunal strikes out NNPP’s appeal to abridge Doguwa’s right

The National/State House of Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano on Thursday dismissed an appeal by the New Nigeria Peoples Party to abridge House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa’s right as enshrined in the constitution.

Air Commodore Yusha’u Salisu (retd.), Alhassan Doguwa’s main challenger in the last National Assembly elections, had approached the tribunal with an ex-parte application requesting the court to limit the time of responding to allegations surrounding the February 25 poll.

Bar. Bashir Yusuf Tudun Wuzirci, counsel to the NNPP candidate, in the ex-parte application containing three prayers, asked the court to limit the time of respondence from 21 days to three days.

By the rule of the tribunal, the respondent is entitled to file a memorandum of appearance within seven days and his own reply within 14 days from the declaration of the result or to file his response within 21 days.

In its ruling, the tribunal chairman, Justice A.B Lawal-Akapo, posited that it is only fair in the eyes of the law to allow the respondent to enjoy his 21 days as enshrined in the law.

The tribunal however granted leave to the petitioner to serve Doguwa through substituted means by pasting the summon at the Kano APC Secretariat.

The court similarly allowed the application ex-parte by Yushau Salisu to be heard outside the pre-hearing session.

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