Governor Sanwo-Olu to Be Sacked? US Lawyer Gives Strong Testimony Before Tribunal

• The governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, faces a stiff battle to keep his 'mandate'
• This is because his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, had allegedly pledged his allegiance to the United States and reportedly renounced his Nigerian citizenship
• The Labour Party and its gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, are challenging Sanwo-Olu's victory in court

Ikeja, Lagos state - There is an attempt to sack Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state through an election petition tribunal because Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, had pledged allegiance to the United States (US) and had renounced his Nigerian citizenship.

Legit.ng understands that persons who acquire American citizenship are made to swear an oath of allegiance.

Hamzat's alleged abdication of Nigerian citizenship may badly affect Sanwo-Olu

The American Oath of Allegiance reads in part:

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“I declare on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend USA”.

On Thursday, June 22, Olubusayo Fasidi, an immigration lawyer in the US, testified before the Lagos state election petition tribunal, The Cable reported.

Fasidi appeared before the tribunal and was led in evidence by Olumide Ayeni, counsel to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 2023 election, Premium Times also reported.

Rhodes-Vivour is challenging the victory of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Hamzat, at the Saturday, March 18 governorship election.

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While admitting the documents tendered, the tribunal led by Arum Ashom, the judge, ordered counsel to the respondents to include their objections in their final written addresses.

Subsequently, the case was adjourned to Monday, June 26, for the continuation of the hearing.

Hamzat may end up at Supreme ourt

Reacting to the development, a journalist, Eniola Akinkuotu, pointed out a complication in the matter.

Akinkuotu said the attempt to sack Hamzat is not new, adding that the fresh case involving the Lagos deputy governor may end up at the Supreme Court.

He wrote on his known Twitter handle on Friday, June 23:

“On July 31, 2019, a tribunal sacked Hon Ikengboju Gboluga, a member of PDP representing Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency of Ondo.

“Hon Gboluga was sacked for having dual citizenship. Tribunal ordered that Albert Akintoye of APC be issued Certificate of Return. This was a landmark judgement.

"As head of investigations at PUNCH at the time, I began compiling a list of others who could lose their seats because they hold dual citizenship. Nearly a quarter of the National Assembly had dual citizenships including Senate President Lawan, Speaker Gbaja, deputy Senate President, Omo Agege etc. This meant that all of them could have been sacked. The matter got to Appeal Court courtesy of Wole Olanipekun SAN. He won. Judgment was upturned and Gboluga was reinstated. But It never got to Supreme Court.

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"This new case involving Hamzat is poetic as it’s Olanipekun’s son that’s representing him. It could settle this matter finally at Supreme Court.”

Tribunal set to give verdict on Gbadebo’s petition against Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Lagos state governorship election petitions tribunal is expected to give a verdict on whether or not the petition filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the candidate of the Labour Party in the March 18 election, is competent to be heard or not.

Justice Arum Ashom, the chairman of the tribunal, said the verdict would be given after submission from counsels on the matter.

Source: Legit.ng