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There have been numerous requests by legal eagles and politicians that the Tribunal should determine the winner of the Presidential election before the inauguration of the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29th. A Former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Monday Ubani has alleged that the constitution does not prevent the swearing-in of the President-elect because there is a case in court.
He stated categorically that the timeline being stipulated by the constitution has to be obeyed. Just as many lawyers have substantiated earlier on, he also explained that the 180 days which is the timeline may not be exhausted. However, he stipulated that the constitution is clear about the days that should be used at the Tribunal and the Supreme Court.
He said, ”There has been the suggestion that why don’t you conclude the trail in seven days? I doubt the possibility of that. If you look at the section 285 of the constitution. It gives you the timeline within which these cases are to be disposed of at the trial and then at the appellate court, that is the Supreme Court. You have 180 days within which to finish the procedure, it does not mean that the court has to exhaust all the 180 days but because or the fact that timeline is there.
And then 60 days for Supreme Court, you cannot say that the man who has been elected should not be sworn in because of Tribunal. The Legal Framework has not in any way provided for that. Maybe we have to go back now and look at our constitutional provision and change that.”
Source: Arises News
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