Investigation has emerged that the panel of judges to hear the case of Eyitayo Jegede, factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has pulled out of the case over bribery allegations.
Royal news has gathered that Jegede had gone to the appeal court to challenge the federal high court ruling, which asked the Independent to recognize Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP candidate in the November 26 election.
INEC complied with the order, but Jegede expressed optimism that the appellate court would upturn the ruling.
It would be recalled that Jummai Sankey, head of the panel, had on Saturday said due to urgency of Jegedeβs application, the court would hear the matter on tuesday.
But on Tuesday, Sankey announced the decision of the judges to pull out of the case.
She said Biyi Okporoye, chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP in Ondo, had written a petition, accusing them of taking bribe.
Sankey said they only got to know of the petition addressed to Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the court of appeal, on Monday.
Sankey said the petitioner also copied the National Judicial Commission (NJC).
She said the case had been handed back to Bulkachuwa for re-assignment.
Jegede is of the Ahmed Makarfi group.
