Daily Trust

Kebbi gov’ship: Court slams Sarki Yarki over amended document

- By John Chuks Azu

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected the amended document filed by a governorsh­ip candidate in Kebbi State, Bello SarkiYarki challengin­g the election of Governor Atiku Bagudu.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that the court processes were altered by Sarki-Yarki without the approval of the court.

The court had in 2017 directed Sarki Yarki, who was candidate of the PDP, to amend the processes and remove the name and evidence of Sahabi Sani Sami against Governor Bagudu, the APC and INEC after he withdrew from the suit.

However, Bagudu’s counsel Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) challenged the amendment on the grounds that Sarki Yarki proceeded to also remove other witnesses’ statements on oath and two paragraphs in the witness statement on oath and the name of a key witness in the matter.

In his ruling, Justice Mohammed ordered the applicant’s counsel to restore the two paragraphs removed from the witness statement and the name of the witness “so that the amendment carried out could receive the blessing of the court.”

Sarkin Yaki, retired Major General who scored the second highest number of votes in the April 11, 2015 election, was seeking an order of the court to declare him the winner of the governor ship election.

He wanted the court to hold that the incumbent governor was not qualified to contest the election.

The case has been adjourned to January 29 for trial.

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