The ongoing All Judges Conference which began yesterday at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) Abuja, stalled further hearing before the Supreme Court over the appeal by the? Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the? tenure elongation of some six governors.
The Supreme Court later adjourned the mater to November 28 for a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice,? Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Chief G. O. K.? Ajayi (SAN) and Prof.? Itse Sagay (SAN) to advise it on the INEC’s appeal? against the Court of Appeal decision to extend the tenure of five governors beyond May 29 2011.
In a press statement dated November 21 and signed by the Chief Registrar of the apex court,? Sunday Olorundahunsi, the court will not sit from November 21-25, 2011. All cases slated for same period are therefore adjourned. But the court clerks duly informed that hearing on the tenure elongation suit would continue on November 28.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher,? recently replaced the AGF, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), as a member of the committee to advise the Supreme Court on the tenure elongation suit before it.
Adoke was one of the lawyers invited by the apex court to advise it on the way to go in the appeal filed by INEC on the tenure of five governors.
According to a source close to the Supreme Court, Justice? Musdapher had replaced the AGF with a one-time lawyer to the late M.K.O Abiola, Chief G.K.O Ajayi, a senior advocate of Nigeria.
The Supreme Court recently invited Akinjide,? Sagay and Adoke to come to the court to advise on the matter.