Appeal court constitutes fresh panel to hear Ondo PDP case

The court of appeal has constituted a new three-man panel of judges to hear the appeals in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis in Ondo state.

Eyitayo Jegede had challenged an order of the federal high court Abuja, replacing him with Jimoh Ibrahim as the Ondo PDP governorship candidate.

The three-panel of judges led by Jummai Sankey withdrew from the case on Tuesday following a petition by Biyi Poroye, factional chairman of the PDP in Ondo.

Poroye had alleged that Sankey had not only been bribed by Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo state, but was prone to corruption because she had expended a lot of money on an “illness that made her broke”.

Following the development, Zainab Bulkachuwa, president court of appeal, named Ibrahim Saulawa as chairman of the new panel. It has Ignatius Agube and Godwin Mbaba as members.

“You are hereby empannelled to sit and determine the above appeals in Abuja Division expeditiously. Hon. Justice I. M. M Saulawa will be presiding in the panel,” the letter to the new panel read.

“Fixation of dates to be worked out with the Presiding Justice, Abuja division.”

The appeals, marked CA/A/551C/2016 filed by Eyitayo Jegede against Prince Biyi Poroye and 10 others; and CA/A551B/2016 filed by the PDP against Biyi Poroye and 9 others, are yet to be assigned to the panel.

But they will hear and determine; CA/A/402//2016, filed by the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP against Benson Akingboye and two others; CA/A/551/m/2016 filed by Ahmed Makarfi and Ben Obi against Biyi Poroye and 10 others, and CA/A/551A/m/2016 filed by Clement Faboyede and another against 10 others.

They will also hear; CA/A/EPT/567/2015 filed by Diri Kelly Adonye and INEC and two others.