The lead counsel representing Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his election petition, Livy Uzoukwu, has on behalf of his client told Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the court of appeal that the delay in the appointment of her replacement will stall the enforcement of justice.
Mr. Uzoukwu made this clear in a letter sent to Bulkachuwa on May 31, urging her to appoint her replacement on the presidential election tribunal in order to save time.
Recall that Justice Bulkachuwa withdrew as head of the five-man panel of the tribunal on May 22, following a petition accusing her of a likelihood of bias.
The PDP and Atiku had requested Bulkachuwa’s withdrawal because she is the wife of Adamu Bulkachuwa, APC senator-elect for Bauchi north senatorial district.
Silas Joseph, a member of the legal team who signed the letter on behalf of Uzoukwu, asked Bulkachuwa to act quickly considering “the strict requirement of keeping to the constitutional calendar for a petition and the obvious fact that time is also running fast against the petitioners.”
It read partly, “I have the authority of the Lead Counsel, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) to write this letter. My Lord will recall that on 22nd May 2019, the above mentioned Petition came up for a motion requesting that my Lord to recuse herself from further presiding or participating in this Petition. At the end of the proceedings, my Lord graciously recused herself on personal grounds and promised to appoint another Justice to continue with the Petition,” the letter read.
“My Lord, it is 9 (nine) days since the date my Lord recused himself and nothing has been heard regarding the replacement that was to be made thereafter.
“We pray my Lord to act timeously in appointing a replacement so that we will get a hearing notice and continue with the petition in the interest of justice.”
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