The Deputy Governor of the State, Dr Obafemi Hamzat had taken an oath of allegiance in the United States (U.S.) to renounce Nigerian citizenship.
This position was made known before the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Arum Ashom by a U.S. Immigration lawyer, Mrs Olubusayo Fasidi while testifying before the Tribunal.
While being led in evidence by Dr Olumide Ayeni (SAN), counsel to the petitioner, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, the witness informed the Tribunal that Hamzat, the third respondent in the petition, also applied for naturalisation as contained in forms 8CFR/337 and N400.
The SAN tendered the documents to the three-man Tribunal, but counsel to all the respondents objected, saying that the reason for their objection would be included in their final written addresses.
During cross-examination by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Eric Ogiegor, the witness posited that an individual could enjoy dual citizenship.
Mrs Fasidi, however, said that she was not aware of the provision of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution that dealt with dual citizenship.
According to her, she was subpoenaed before the Tribunal to explain U.S. law and not Nigeria’s Constitution.
Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), counsel to Hamzat and Lagos State Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, asked the witness to disclose the jurisdiction and date Hamzat applied for naturalisation, but she said she would not because the information was protected by the Privacy Act of 1974.
Even, the lawyer for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Norrison Quakers, asked the witness if she was aware that Hamzat disclosed his American citizenship.
The witness responded in the affirmative, prompting Quakers to argue that the witness addressed issues of law and not those of facts.
In admitting all the documents in evidence, the Justice Ashom-led Tribunal ordered counsel to the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.
Other members of the Tribunal are Justice Mikail Abdullahi and Justice l.P. Braimoh.
The continuation of hearing on the petition has been adjourned until June 26, 2023.
All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.
For advert placement, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492.
Post a Comment