Embattled
Senator Dino Melaye failed on Thursday in his bid to stop the ongoing recall
process by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice John
Tsoho in an ex-parte ruling rejected Melaye’s motion for a temporary injunction
restraining INEC from proceeding with the recall process until the
determination of suit challenging his recall.
Instead, the
judge ordered parties in the case to “maintain status quo pending the hearing
of the motion on notice.”
Chief Mike
Ozekhome (SAN) argued Melaye’s ex-parte motion.
The judge
adjourned till September 29 hearing of Melaye’s motion on notice and
applications filed by three individuals, led by Chief Cornelius Olowo, who
applied to be made parties in the suit.
In the main
suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/587/2017, with INEC as the only defendant, Melaye
faulted the recall process, saying it was tainted with political malice and
initiated by his political enemies.
The Senator
denied any wrongdoing and claimed he was being targeted for standing up for the
oppressed in Kagi State and the many workers who have not been paid salaries by
the state government.
Melaye is
praying the court to declare the petition submitted to INEC Chairman, Prof.
Yakubu Mahmood, as “illegal, unlawful, wrongful, unconstitutional, invalid,
null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”
He also
wants the court to void the recall process because it was commenced in breach
of his fundamental right to fair hearing.
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