PDP CRISIS:Supreme Court Dismisses Sheriff's Appeal

By Okolo Onoamaka Jessica

     THE Supreme Court yesterday reserved judgment on an appeal challenging the affirmation of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

     The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who presided, reserved the judgment after counsel to parties adopted their written addresses.
      The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Sen. Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the party had on March 16, filed the appeal against Sheriff’s position.
     The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt on February 27 declared Sheriff as the legitimate National Chairman of the party
Earlier, the five- panel of justices dismissed the application filed by Sheriff to stop the apex court from hearing Makarfi’s appeal.
At the resumed hearing, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel to Sheriff argued that Makarfi’s appeal was an abuse of court process.
    According to him, ‘Makarfi fails to seek the leave of court before filing the application.’
Olujimi also submitted that the Makarfi’s faction ceased to be recognised following the court of appeal’s judgment.
He said that his client, who was the legitimate national chairman of the party, had not authorised anybody to file the appeal on behalf of the party.
In the light of the arguments, Olujimi prayed the court to dismiss the appeal forthwith.
     Chief Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), however, prayed the court to disregard the argument advanced by Sheriff’s counsel, adding that the submissions were baseless.
In his ruling, the CJN held that all valid appeals before the court on the matter must be heard.
“The rules mandate the appeals to be filed within three months in this court after the appeal court judgment.
“The application in question was so filed within the period and as such is deemed filed,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the dismissal of Sheriff’s application by the court paved the way for the adoption of the written addresses by counsel to parties.
Counsel to Makarfi, in adopting his client’s address, argued that