Danaya seeks review of petition case

 FORMER Western governor Dr Bob Danaya has filed in the Supreme Court a leave to review a National Court decision that dismissed his election petition against his successor, Ati Wobiro, on March 5.

Danaya had raised bribery allegations against Wobiro and irregularities by the Electoral Commission earlier in the Court of Disputed Returns but the petition was dismissed during a trial on competency in Daru, Western.

Wobiro, through his lawyer, Goiye Gileng of Posman Kua Aisi Lawyers, had earlier filed a notice of objection to competency of the petition and argued the petition did not comply with section 208 (d) of the Organic Law in relation to proper attestation (to testify, confirm, verify or prove facts relied on in the petition), which one of the attesting witnesses of the petitioner, Sanaka Kela, failed to state his correct occupation.

Kela had attested in the petition his occupation as “second secretary to the office of the former governor” which Gileng submitted there was no “office of the former governor” or former MP by law and Justice Derek Hartshorn, agreed with him and upheld the objection to competency and dismissed the petition in its entity.

Danaya and Wobiro were in court yesterday but their case was adjourned by Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia to April 22 for hearing.