The emergence of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of Court of Appeal’s judgement affirming the election of Abba Yusuf as Kano State governor has caused confusion.
Recall, on Friday 17th November 2023, a three-member panel sitting at the appeal court, had dismissed the appeal filed by Governor Yusuf Nasiru challenging the victory of Gov. Abba, on the basis of his membership status.
But when the certified true copy of the judgement was released by the court on Tuesday, a number of contradictory declarations in the judgement were observed.
In the CTC, duly signed by the three justices, the appellate court went further to award N1,000,0000 cost in favour of the NNPP and against the APC, contrary to its Friday pronouncement.
In one instance, the statement read: “I will conclude by stating that the live issues in this appeal are hereby resolved in favour of the 1st respondent (APC) and against the appellant (Governor Abba Yusuf)”,
However, it went further to contradict itself in another sentence.
The court stated, “In the circumstances, I resolve all the issues in favour of the appellant (NNPP) and against the 1st respondent (APC).”
Furthermore, the court contradicted itself, declaring, “Therefore, I find no merit in this appeal which is liable to be and is hereby dismissed.”
Although, the final line of the judgment, the court set aside the judgment of the tribunal, which sacked the governor.
“The judgment of the tribunal In Petition No.: EPT/KN/GOV/01/2023 between: ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) v. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 2 ORS. delivered on the 20th day of September, 2023 is hereby set aside,” the CTC of the judgement read.