The Supreme Court, on Thursday, issued a stay of execution on the orders of the Court of Appeal made on March 1, 2024, regarding inspections carried out by petitioners before the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
The Appeal Court, sitting in Abuja, had overturned the decision of the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, also situated in Abuja. This prompted the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, and the party to instruct their legal team to appeal to the Supreme Court against the Appeal Court’s orders.
In response to the application for interim stay of execution submitted by the petitioners’ legal team, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners during proceedings on Thursday.
Chief J.S. Okutepa (SAN), leading other lawyers, moved the application on Thursday morning, urging the Supreme Court to grant the application to prevent irreparable damages caused by the orders of the Court of Appeal.
The Supreme Court concurred with the petitioners’ arguments and ordered a stay in terms of the reliefs sought in the motion filed on March 5, 2024.
However, the motion on notice has been adjourned to March 11, 2024, for a hearing, signaling a continued legal battle over the Kogi State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal’s rulings.
