The Kogi State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Lokoja monday granted six ex parte motions to all the petitioners seeking leave of the tribunal to grant order of relief to serve the Governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, through a substituted means, owing to the inability of court bailiffs to serve him.

All the six legal counsel representing Hon. James Faleke of the APC, PDP, APGA, LP, ADC and PPA urged the tribunal to allow motions be served by pasting on the gate of the last known address of Bello or at the APC’s secretariat in Lokoja among others.

The Chairman of the tribunal,  Justice Halima S. Mohammed, who granted the six ex parte motions stated that the second respondent, APC governor-elect, be served by a substituted means before the commencement of the substantive suits.

Similarly, the tribunal also granted the ex parte motion filed by the leading counsel to Governor Idris Wada of the PDP, Chief Chris Uche, to inspect all the materials used in connection with the conduct of the state Governorship election that are in INEC custody.

Uche pointed out that the application was supported by an 11-paragraph affidavit and signed by one John Mark, adding that it became imperative to enable the team obtain all relevant materials needed in this case.

He therefore sought two weeks to inspect the materials, before the report would be brought before the tribunal.

While granting the reliefs, the tribunal chairman said the tribunal would adjourn and be reconvene on January 21, 2016, stressing that all the parties would be formally informed of the need to inspect the materials so that there would be need for others to seek the same process.

Earlier, the chairman of the tribunal who appeared alone to commence the sitting, stated that the chairman can take an ex parte motion since it was not an inaugural sitting which would require an address.

Wada’s counsel,  Uche, however pleaded with the tribunal chairman to allow other members show up for familiarisation purposes.

As mark of honor, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Mohammed, briefly adjourned at about 10.50a.m and reconvened later with all the members.

The tribunal members are Justice Halima S Mohammed as the Chairman, Justice Patricia Ajoku and Justice Agbogo Elijah  Ejembi as memebrs.

The tribunal has however adjourned till  January 21.