PLATEAU LP: ENGR. JACK D. BOT vs LP AND PWAJOK (SAN), JUDGE TRANSFERS CASE FILE

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

Owing to limitation of time and the directive by the President of the Nigerian Federal High Court (FHC) that all pre-election matters must be determined within weeks, a Federal High Court in Jos Division has today, transferred the matter between Engr. Jack Dung Bot, (the running mate to, Amb. Yohana Margif), the Labour Party (LP), Edward Pwajok (SAN), the running mate to, Dr. Patrick Dakum and INEC to his superior, the Presiding Judge (PJ) in Court 1.

All the Counsels in the matter, however, gave kudos to the decision of the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Peter M. Mallone, during an on-the-spot interview at the Court premises.

M.B. Abdullahi (Esq), Counsel to the Plaintiff (Engr. Jack Bot), in his reaction said, “Because of the time frame and the directive given by the President of the Federal High Court (FHC) that, all pre-election matters must be dispended with within the next weeks and that, any matter that has not been heard should be transferred to the taskforce so that they are determined within the period as directed this transfer is welcome.

“It is a fact that, the taskforce was inaugurated in Abuja recently.

“So, whether the matter is transferred to Abuja, we are fully ready.

You would recall that, following the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s list of Governorship candidates and their running mates for the 30 states of the federation on October 04, 2022 in which Dr. Patrick Dakum and Edward Pwajok SAN made the Labour Party list for Plateau State, Engr Jack Dung Bot, the running mate to Amb. Yohana Margif had dragged the party, Edward Pwajok SAN and INEC to the Federal High Court Jos.

However, when the case file was called on Monday, Counsel for Engr. Bot, Munir Barau Abdullahi (Esq), had told the court that in view of the fact that the Respondents (LP, Pwajok, INEC) had three days to file their responses, he asked for a short adjournment of maximum 10 days in which, parties might have joined issues for adoption.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned to today, 11^th November, 2022, for continuation of hearing.