Olisa Agbakoba, a legal luminary, has stated that it is possible to conclude presidential election petitions in April if the court systems are very proactive.
He noted that the tension surrounding the call for an interim government stemmed from expectations that the tribunal would not rule before May 29.
According to Agbakoba, orders/directions are issued peremptorily in arbitration cases to resolve complex jurisdictional and procedural issues.
In a statement issued on Monday, he urged the presidential election tribunal to adapt the procedures that are very familiar with the quick resolution of arbitration matters.
The issues raised by the Labour Party, LP, and its candidate Peter Obi, who insists he won the February 25 election, were listed by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
“…The interpretation of Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution as to whether 25 percent of votes in the FCT are compulsory; Is a candidate permitted to stand for election when he is also a senatorial candidate?; Issues concerning APC candidate qualification,” he said.
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If the petitions were arbitration proceedings, Agbakoba said, an arbitrator could issue a procedural order addressing all complex disputes and delivering “a partial final award.”
The SAN charged the tribunal and the Supreme Court with issuing the order, resolving the jurisdictional issues raised, and issuing the final summary judgment.
“The petitions can be resolved between the tribunal and the Supreme Court within 7 (seven) days of today.” This will bring the temperature down in Nigeria on the issue of interim government, among other things,” he added.
According to Agbakoba, the required speed would be a radical departure from current policy, in which case management plays a limited role in judicial outcomes.
“The mantra that our judiciary must loudly proclaim is “speed of justice.” This is urgently required in the presidential petitions proceedings,” he emphasized.
