Date Published: 01/14/10

Yar'Adua's Absence: Falana's Case transferred to another Judge, others adjourned

Cases at the Federal High Court Abuja seeking to compel President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to formally hand over power to Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan on health ground were adjourned for hearing to another date while that of Femi Falana was transferred to Justice Bello Umar.

Mr Falana is asking the court to annul all decisions taken by the cabinet during the president's absence.

But during a short hearing at Abuja's Federal Court he argued that Judge Abutu could not rule in his case because Wednesday's case was so similar.

Judge Abutu passed the case to another judge, but a date for the next hearing was not set.

In another of Thursday's cases, the Nigerian Bar Association is demanding that power is handed over formally to Mr Jonathan.

That case was adjourned until 21 January.

While a third case, in which a rights group wants Mr Yar'Adua declared "missing", was adjourned until 22 January.

No reason was given for the adjournments.