Prof. Mike Ozekhome SAN, lead counsel to the Attorneys General of seven States that filed a suit at the Supreme Court on February 28, 2023, against the Federal Government has disclosed the rationale behind withdrawal of the legal action on March 3.
Adamawa, Sokoto, Edo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and later Taraba States had through their various AGs, instituted the suit marked SC/CV/354/2023, at the Supreme Court
Specifically, the Plaintiff States among other reliefs are seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the Federation of Nigeria, whether by herself through the Attorney General of the Federation or acting through any of its executive bodies, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission, its officers or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) of INEC howsoever from continuing with the fundamentally flawed electoral process by announcing results of the presidential and national assembly elections held on February 25.
The notice of discontinuance dated March 3, was endorsed by Prof. Ozekhome.
“The Supreme Court suit between the 7 States and AG Federation which was filed during the flawed manual collation of results contrary to the clear provisions of the Electoral Act, the INEC Guidelines and Regulations and the manual for INEC officials, has been discontinued due to the fact that the flawed results have already been announced and a President-elect declared, albeit illegally and unconstitutionally.
“Having been overtaken by events, it will now be a Tribunal matter” Prof. Ozekhome told our Correspondent.
