Appeal Court reverses Governor Ikpeazu's sack

dimeji akinloye

August 18, 2016 5:59 PM

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju held that Justice Abang erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice against Ikpeazu.

Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upturned the judgment that sacked Abia State Governor,

A five-man panel of justices of the appellate court nullified the verdict on Thursday, August 18, 2016.

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on June 27 ordered Ikpeazu to vacate his seat for allegedly submitting a fake tax clearance to the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 governorship primaries of the party.

The judge also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a fresh certificate of return to Uche Ogah, the petitioner, who was the second runner-up in the primaries.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju held that Justice Abang erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice against Ikpeazu.

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She said Justice Abang “committed a grave violence against one of the pillars of Justice” regarding fair hearing.

The court, therefore, upheld Ikpeazu's appeal and awarded N100, 000 cost against Ogah.

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