May 19, (THEWILL) – The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), sitting at the Appeal Court in Abuja, has rejected representation by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, as counsel to the Labour Party.
Maduabuchi, who was contracted by the Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party, told the court on Friday, that he was briefed to represent the Party at the PEPC.
This was after the Presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi, made representation for himself and Awa Kalu (SAN), had made an appearance for the party.
The five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, however, stopped Maduabuchi and insisted that the legal representation for the petitioners is one.
Noting that Maduabuchi did not file the petition, and as such, cannot represent the party, Justice Tsammani cautioned that being a Senior Advocate, he ought to have advised his client properly.
The Panel urged Maduabuchi to either sit and observe the proceedings or take his leave.
THEWILL reports that Maduabuchi opted for the second option and left the courtroom.
Meanwhile, the panel has reserved ruling in the application filed by Peter Obi, seeking live coverage of proceedings of the PEPC.
Both Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima, and Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), have filed their responses to the application, and urged the court to reject the application.
