The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad, presided over the determination of seven outstanding governorship appeals today at the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court was to hear appeals in respect of Kano, Imo, Bauchi, Benue, Plateau, Sokoto and Adamawa states governorship elections.
However, three major events influenced the sitting which forced the cases to be adjourned to Tuesday.
Below are the three major events at the court:
Overcrowding
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Tanko Muhammad had to retired to his chambers over the congestion in the Supreme Court hall.
Justice Muhammad, who was presiding over the determination of seven outstanding governorship appeals, complained about the rowdy hall.
Supporters of the governors from Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, Adamawa, Imo, Benue, and Plateau states had thronged the court premises since 6:00am on Monday.
The Director of Litigation of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Gold, had to ask persons with no serious business in the court to leave.
Justice falls sick
Justice Muhammad, who resumed sitting in the appeals after rising earlier due to congestion in the hall, suddenly announced a suspension of the hearing due to the illness of one of the seven Justices.
The CJN said the Kano matter alongside the six other governorship appeals will be stood down for medical attention to the unnamed Justice.
Former Bauchi governor attacked
After the announcement of the adjournment of the cases by Justice Muhammad, a former governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar, was attacked after stepping out of the court.
He was raising his hands to signal ‘four plus four’, which led to an attack from some youths, who pelted him with water bottles.
As the former governor was being whisked away by his security, the angry mob continued to chant “karya ne!” “Barawo!”
