The State and National Appeal Court sitting in Lagos on Tuesday, November 7 reserved ruling in the appeal filed by the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) against the re-election of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Abdulazeez Adediran of PDP, are challenging the Sept. 25, ruling of the election tribunal which upheld the March 18, re-election of Sanwo-Olu.
At the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday, the Lead Justice, Yargata Nimpar, reserved ruling after listening to the argument of the parties.
Justice Nimpar said the date for judgement would be communicated to the parties.
Earlier, Counsel to Labour Party, Mr Benson Olagbade, urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the decision of the tribunal.
According to him, the tribunal erred in law when it held that the burden of proof of specific oath of allegiance subscribed to by Hamzat, as well as the evidence of his renounced citizenship rests on the appellant.
He urged the court to interprete Section 182 (1) (a) of the Constitution regarding the disqualification of Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Kadiri Hamzat.
“We invite this court to give full interpretation of the law to this matter.
“It does not matter whose ox is gored,” Olagbade said.
Responding, Mr Wole Olanipeku (SAN), counsel to Lagos Gov Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Hamzat, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
Olanipeku said the dual citizenship argued by the appellant was never brought before the tribunal.
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“They are now presenting a case of dual citizenship, they believe that this is a trial court.“The tribunal found out that the purported oath of allegiance to a foreign country was not before it so it ruled it out.
“We urge your Lordship to dismiss this appeal,” Olanipekun said.
