The Supreme Court has reserved judgement in a suit filed by President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation, seeking an interpretation of Section 84(12) of the electoral act, 2022.
The seven-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Dattijo, says the date will be communicated to the parties involved in the suit.
The Apex Court arrived at this conclusion, after taking arguments from parties and adopting their processes.
At the proceedings on Thursday, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), and the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), brought an application, seeking to be joined as interested parties.
APGA, however, opted out by withdrawing its application for joinder which was subsequently struck out by the Apex Court.
The NBA, however, stood firm, insisting that Nigerians do not have representation in the suit, that is why it has opted to join the matter.
In the suit, the defendants were the National Assembly, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the Attorney General of Rivers State, on account of this the NBA insisted it was to represent the interest of Nigerians by joining the suit.
Counsel to President Muhammadu Buhari, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) objected to the application of the NBA to be joined either as an interested party or as amicus curiae in the suit.
Fagbemi objected to the NBA joining as amicus curiae in the matter, insisting it holds an opinion and is taking sides on the matter already.
Eventually, the plaintiff counsel conceded to the application for NBA to be joined as amicus curiae, stressing its submissions on the matter will be strictly on giving an interpretation of the said Section 84 (12) and not join issues.
The panel in a short ruling joined the NBA as an Amicus curiae
An amicus curiae is an impartial adviser to a court of law in a particular case.
Counsel to the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Attorney General of the State, Emmanuel Ukala, citing Supreme Court Additional Jurisdictions Act, said Buhari lacks locus standi to institute such a suit as he is not directly affected by the Section 84 [12] of the Electoral Act.
Justice Mohammed said parties would be informed about the date of delivery when the judgment is ready.
RELATED POSTS
Abacha’s son wins Kano PDP governorship primaries
Buhari and Malami are, in the suit marked: SC/CV/504/2022 contending that the Constitution has made provisions for qualifications and disqualifications for the offices of the President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy-Govemor, Senate and House of Representatives, and House of Assembly, Ministers, Commissioners and Special Advisers.
They want an order nullifying the provisions of Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act, 2022 by application of the blue pencil rule, for being unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and having been made in excess of the legislative powers of the defendant as enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Nigeria Lawyers /The Nation
