Tope Temokun, a lawyer and human right activist, on Friday wrote a letter to the Chief Judge of Ondo State requesting the transfer of a suit he filed to the vacation court for urgent hearing.
The activist said the he filed the suit on the 29th of July, 2024, seeking the court to mandate the conduct of local government elections in Ondo State.
Temokun disclosed that the matter, with suit no: AK/315/2024, has been assigned to Akure High Court 7 for mentioning on October 17, 2024.
But the rights activist emphasised that judging by the urgency of the suit, it would be too late if the suit is heard on October 17 as scheduled by the court.
He, therefore, requested that the matter be transferred to the vacation court for hearing due to the urgency of the matter.
The letter written to the Chief Judge of Ondo State reads inter alia: “I respectfully write to your Lordship regarding the above-referenced suit, which I filed on the 29th of July, 2024. The processes filed include: Originating Summons;
Motion Ex-parte for Accelerated Hearing and for the matter to be heard by the vacation court;
Affidavit of Urgency.
“The matter, which has been assigned to High Court 7 is currently slated for the 17th of October, 2024. One implication of this is the denial of hearing of the Ex-parte motion in Suit No: AK/315/2024 – Tope Temokun v. Ondo State Government & Ors, which seeks this matter to be heard by the vacation court.
“If the October date stands, then the motion would have become otiose in October and the essence of this case, which is accompanied with affidavit of urgency and which seeks to affirm the integrity of the judiciary and supremacy of the constitution over political manipulation and in which time is of essence, by calling on the government to comply with the Supreme Court judgment and carry out a duty imposed, would have been defeated.
“I believe that the scheduling of this matter for October 2024 significantly undermines the urgency and importance of the issues at stake, considering the fact that the Ondo State Governorship election has been slated for November 2024.
“This case addresses critical constitutional questions that, if delayed, may result in perpetuating an unconstitutional situation, rendering the matter academic by the time it is eventually heard. I believe it is in the interest of justice and rule of law that this case be heard and determined expeditiously.
“Given these circumstances, I respectfully request the urgent transfer of the Ex-parte motion in Suit No: AK/315/2024 – Temokun v. Ondo State Government &Ors– currently pending before High Court 7, to the vacation judge for immediate hearing.
“The accelerated resolution of this case is, most importantly, vital for upholding the integrity of our Courts, particularly the Supreme Court.
“I trust in your Lordship’s wisdom and fairness and remain hopeful that my request will be favorably considered.”
Following the verdict of the Supreme Court, which granted financial autonomy to the 774 local government areas in the federation, the lawyer and human right activist filed the suit to compel Ondo State government and the state electoral commission to conduct without delay elections to fill all the elective positions in the 18 local government areas of the state.