REACTIONS have trailed the Supreme Court judgement which ruled on the elections of Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah.

Legal practioners were, however, unanimous in their submission to the verdict by the apex court.

Senior Advocates, who lent their voices, include Messrs Rickey Tarfa,  Mike Ozekhome and  Emeka Ngige.

Also, elder statesman, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, opined that the apex court was not consequential in its judgement.

Supreme Court not specific — Tarfa

In his reaction, Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN) said the Supreme Court did not give consequential orders to the National Assembly members to vacate their seats.

His words: “I am yet to read the full judgement of the Supreme Court and I have a narrow observation on the judgement. However, from what I have read so far in the newspapers, there was no specific declaration that they should vacate their seat.”

It never gave mandatory orders — Ozekhome

Also reacting, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) said what the Supreme Court gave was a declaratory order and not a mandatory order for the Senators to vacate their seats.

His words: “Although I have not read the Supreme Court judgement,  but from what I have read, what the Supreme Court did was to give a declaratory order to say that a particular state executive was the recognized one while the other is not recognized.”

They’ve not flouted court order—Emeka Ngige

According to Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, the lawmakers were expected to retain their seats until the apex court gives a contrary judgement.

Ngige said: “They are entitled to remain in the Senate in the absence of any consequential court order ordering INEC to withdraw Certificates of Return from them.

There was no consequential

order—Adebanjo

On his part, Chief Adebanjo said it was imperative for proper interpretation of the judgement, adding that there was no consequential order on the matter.

Adebanjo, a lawyer, said: “There has to be proper interpretation but the Supreme Court did not make consequential order and that is what we are saying. If the court did not make consequential order asking them to vacate their seats, the lawyers need to go before the Supreme Court for proper interpretation.”

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