The Appeal Court has responded to the crisis stemming from the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment on the Kano Governorship election, where the court upheld the tribunal’s verdict that ousted Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The CTC of the judgment was found to be contradictory, with the lead judgment by Justice Moore Aseimo Abraham Adumein stating conflicting resolutions on different pages. Despite the discrepancy, the Chief Registrar of the Appeal Court, Umar Mohammed Bangari, clarified that the clerical error did not invalidate or alter the unanimous conclusion of the three-member panel of justices.
Bangari emphasized that the clerical error would be rectified upon the submission of a formal application by the involved parties, citing the court’s authority under Order 23 Rule 4 of the Court of Appeal Handbook to correct such errors.
He dismissed concerns circulating on social media, asserting the continued validity of the court’s judgment. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s legal team subsequently filed a fresh notice of appeal before the Supreme Court, aiming to uphold favorable aspects of the judgment and overturn unfavorable ones. However, the Court of Appeal staff initially refused service, prompting the legal team to proceed to the Kano Division of the court, where the processes were accepted.
Following this, officials from the Court of Appeal sent letters to all counsels involved, requesting the return of CTCs for correction. Governor Yusuf’s legal team, however, refused to accept the service. The situation reflects the ongoing legal intricacies surrounding the Kano Governorship election case.
