The disbandment of a panel set up to hear a case before the Appeal Court filed by Senator Buruji Kashamu, challenging the judgment of the Election Petitions Tribunal held in Abeokuta, Ogun State on October 9, 2015.

Proceedings could not hold on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan as scheduled due to the disbandment of the panel set up by the President of the Court of Appeal.

Parties and their counsels were seated, awaiting the arrival of the panel members for the hearing to commence, when the Court Registrar suddenly announced that the matter would not proceed as scheduled because the panel put in place for the hearing had been disbanded.

The Court Registrar further said that information about the continuation of the hearing would be communicated at an appropriate time.

Though, the Registrar did not explain why the panel was disbanded, it might not be unconnected to a petition earlier filled by Senator Kashamu and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging manipulations of the matter and a compromise of panel members.

Speaking on the development, the PDP Chairman in Ogun State, Dayo Adebayo, stated that the disbandment of the panel was a victory for the people and a sign that the judiciary was sensitive and willing to be fair to all parties.

In his own reaction, the petitioner, Adedapo Abiodun, expressed surprise that the matter could not go on as scheduled and described the allegations as ludicrous and laughable. He, however, expressed optimism that the development would not affect his case and that his confidence in the judiciary was unshaken.

“If a party feels that they will not get justice because of some accusations and the judiciary in its wisdom takes that into consideration, whatever the judiciary decides, he and his party will abide by it because they have utmost belief in the Nigerian judicial system.”

Meanwhile, a new date is yet to be announced for the proceedings to commence.

(Channels TV)

•Photo shows Sen. Kashamu.

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