Kogi State Commissioner For Education, Science and Technology, Hon Wemi Jones, has sent a message of congratulations to Hon. Mathew Kolawole on his victory at the Supreme Court.
The Commissioner in a statement issued to Newsmen in Lokoja, says Truth would always prevail over darkness, described the Supreme Court decision as the will of the people.
While urging those who went to court to accept the verdict as a no winner no vanquish decision in the interest of the people of Kabba Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency and the APC, urged them to join hands with Hon. Kolawole to enable the APC win overwhelmingly in the general election.
The Commissioner Congratulated Hon. Kolawole, urged him to reach out to the aggrieved parties with a view to forming a United APC in the Federal Constituency.
Recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria today validated the APC mandate of Matthew Kolawole for Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency as the case filed by Segun Olobatoke to challenge his victory at the Court Appeal was today struck out in Abuja.
It would be recalled that upon concurrent loss at the trial in the Federal High Court, Lokoja and the Court of Appeal, Abuja last year, dismissing Segun Samuel Olobatoke suit for being incompetent and dissatisfied with the findings of the lower Courts, appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court handed down its Judgment, to the effect that the Sheriff and Civil Process Act 2004 does not apply to the Federal High Court, as such the trial Court ought not to have applied the Act in dismissing the Appellant’s originating Summons.
The Apex Court held further on the request made by the Appellant for the Apex Court to hear and determine the Suit on the merit by invoking section 22 of the Supreme Court Act, this request was declined by the Apex Court because the 180 days allowed by section 285 of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) has passed as such the Appellant Suit cannot be remitted to the Federal High Court, Lokoja for retrial because the action is statute barred.
The Judge further said the Supreme Court cannot exercise a stale jurisdiction thereafter the Apex Court struck out the Appellant Suit having been caught up by section 285 of the 1999 Constitution as Amended, foreclosing the opportunity of the Supreme Court to look at the case on its merit.