Justice Mohammed Garba, the Presiding Justice of the Lagos division of the Court of Appeal, officially took over as the President of the Court of Appeal, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, on Monday.
This comes after Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, recused herself from the panel, followings allegation of likelihood of bias levelled against her by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate in the February 23, 2019, presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.
The petitioners are challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Presidential election.
About Justice Mohammed Garba
Hon. Justice .M. Garba was born on November 16, 1958. He was called to bar on July 2, 1980. He was the Chief Judge, High Court, Zamfara State. He will retire on 16th Nov 2028.
Hon Justice Bulkachuwa approved the posting of Justice Garba to the Appeal Court Abuja in 2018, as the presiding Justice.
On Wednesday April 24, 2019, Justice M. Garba gave the lead judgment at the Court of Appeal, where the court dismissed Orji Kalu’s no-case submission and ordered him to put in his defence over the alleged N7.65bn fraud charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He was also a member of the Osun State electoral appeal tribunal headed by Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi that nullified the 2007 election victory of former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Justice Garba presided over the election petition Appeal that upheld the judgement of the election tribunal in Akure, which declared Mimiko winner of the election and dismissed the appeal against the declaration for lack of merit.
Also, Justice Garba was among the five Justices of the Court of Appeal, that ordered a stay of further proceedings in the legal battle challenging the controversial impeachment of Ladoja on January 12, 2015. This followed the application for a stay of proceedings filed by counsel to the pro-Adedibu lawmakers, Messrs Christopher O. Ayanlaja and Lateef Fagbemi (SANs).
Justice Garba presided over the Feb 7, 2017 three-man Court of Appeal panel which struck out an application by the Lagos State Government, seeking an injunction to suspend hijab use by Muslim female pupils in public schools in the state.
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