Justices of the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, yesterday disqualified themselves from hearing the Zamfara State APC primary elections on grounds of integrity. Zamfara APC’s battle to have its candidate participate in the general elections was earlier given fillip by a high court, which ordered the parties to maintain the status quo.
The ruling, if maintained by the appeal court, would have allowed Zamfara APC to field governorship candidates for the March 4 general election. The presiding judge, Justice Ahmad Belgore, ruled that in view of some allegations in circulation coupled with the issue raised by Muhammad Nuhu, counsel to Kabiru Marafa, a respondent, the justices could not continue with the case.
Considering the allegations and the prevailing situation in the judiciary and the nation, Belgore said the justices surrendered to allow the President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) to constitute a new panel to entertain the matter.
Counsel to Marafa and others had alleged that some of his clients had read the allegations in circulation that appeal court justices were offered $3 million to compromise the case.Earlier, the application of counsel to the appellant, Mr. Ishiyaku Dikko (SAN), to withdraw the entire appeal was rejected by the justices on grounds that he ought to have waited until the date fixed for the substantive hearing of the case.
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