Posted by By HAMMED BODUNRIN, Osogbo on
Osun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo yesterday ruled that the Police could be joined as a respondent in a petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola against Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Osun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo yesterday ruled that the Police could be joined as a respondent in a petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola against Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
In the unanimous ruling of the five man panel, the chairman, Justice T.D. Naron ordered that the police was a relevant institution in the conduct of the April 14 governorship election in the state and thus could have a case to answer.
He ruled further that it was right for the police to come and defend its actions in the conduct of the election in the interest of justice and fairplay as there were allegations against them in the petition filed by the aggrieved party.
The state justice ministry had earler objected to joining the police in the case, arguing that the body was not directly involved in the conduct of the election
Defence counsel, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) while reacting to the ruling said it was a welcome development, saying that the jurist went very deep into all the relevant authorities sited by the counsels.
"The ruling shows that there is hope for all the parties to have access to justice and fair trial before the tribunal," he said adding that the team would abide by the ruling of the tribunal.
The Counsel to the Police who is also the state counsel in the state Ministry of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Adedapo said that the ruling of the tribunal was very detailed and clear enough saying the police are prepared to defend their actions during the conduct of the election.
Also, one of the AC counsel, Mr. Kunle Fagbemi in his reaction also expressed hope for that there would be fair trial before the tribunal so that at the end of the day all parties would be satisfied.