Estimated reading time: 4 minute(s)
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has granted permission to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, to serve his election petition through a substituted service to President Muhammadu Buhari.
It also said the service would, therefore, be done through the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, National Secretariat located at Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
Presiding Justice Abdul Aboki, who granted the leave, said that the process would be deemed as properly served on Buhari.
This development, however, arose on the premise that Atiku’s counsel, Chris Uche SAN, said it has been difficult to serve Buhari given his retinue of aides at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In his words, “We have a motion exparte for substituted service on the respondent. The motion dated March 22, praying for the leave of the court limiting the application to be taken before the court and granting leave to the petitioner (PDP) to serve Buhari through any officers or officials at his office or party secretariat.”
Aboki added, “After reading the affidavit in support of the motion exparte and, listening to the petitioner’s counsel, we are of the opinion that reliefs sought should be granted.
“Leave is hereby granted permitting the hearing of the petitioner’s exparte motion.”
It would be recalled that Atiku through a legal petition has challenged the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, saying Buhari was the winner of the rescheduled February 23, presidential election.