TheCable

The court of appeal on Wednesday reserved ruling on an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the appeal in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) crisis in Ondo state.

This was sequel to an application moved by Beluolisa Nwofor, counsel to Biyi Poroye, chairman of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP in Ondo, who applied that the court should stay proceedings in the suit.

Nwofor asked the court to “hands off” and allow the supreme court decide if the matter should continue at the appeal court or not.

“We ask the court to hands off and allow the supreme court decide if it should continue or not,” he said.

“It is at the supreme court that the matter for the stay of proceedings will be heard not here. The appeal is not ripe for hearing because the court has lost jurisdiction due to the facts brought to the notice of the court.

“The court cannot entertain further proceedings until the notice is determined by the apex court.”

On his part, Wole Olanipekun counsel to Eyitayo Jegede, opposed Nwofor’s application, insisting that hearing into the appeal continue.

“We are opposing the application because of what it contains. It will fall flat without any counter-affidavit,” he said.

“No jurisdictional issue or impediment has been raised against the jurisdiction of the court. It is not enough for you to say jurisdictional issue.”

Jegede is appealing the decision of the federal high court substituting him with Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP governorship candidate in Ondo state.

The Ondo governorship election is billed to take place on November 26.