There were strong indications yesterday that the legal tussle over the educational qualification of the PDP candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke to stand for the election may be settled out of court.
Two members of the party had dragged Senator Adeleke to court over what they claimed as his lack of the requisite educational qualification to fly the party’s flag in the election.
At the last sitting, the court had ordered Senator Adeleke to produce his certificate yesterday. However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, the court was briefed of ongoing efforts by the two parties to settle the matter amicably out of court.
The court thus adjourned ruling on the suit to August 6 for consideration of all pending applications.
The court presided over by Justice David Oladimeji had slated the case for definite hearing yesterday but Barrister Olufemi Ayandokun, counsel to the plaintiff, informed the court that he got instruction for an amicable and out of court settlement of the case.
He sued for adjournment of the case adding that INEC which is a major party to the suit has not been served the notice of the motion before the court and that he was on Tuesday evening served a preliminary objection which he was yet to react to by Adeleke’s counsel.
The presiding judge had at the last sitting noted that “it will be inequitable not to allow the respondent to come and show his certificate if he has any but if he is given the opportunity to present his side of the case, the balance which is necessary for the interlocutory injunction will be adequately considered,” adjourned the case based on shared submission of the lawyers.
“For the singular reason that you just filed preliminary objection yesterday, I will consider the adjournment. It will be unwise for the court to go ahead with the ruling,” Justice Oladimeji declared and encouraged the parties to the suit to explore settlement if they wish.
