Friday e version 02 05 2014

Page 49

49

Daily Newswatch

Law

Sam Popoola samolapop@yahoo.com

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2014

Legal quagmire and the politics of defection

David Mark Robert O. Omote

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Aloma

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It is instructive to note that both the executive and legislative arms of government have adequately been kitted with each asserting its constitutional responsibilities at the peril of the judiciary that has neglected or failed to realize the interdependence and intrinsic relationship among these arms

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