The supreme court on Friday
dismissed an application filed by Friday Nwosu, a governorship aspirant in
Abia, praying the court to disqualify Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of the state.
Nwosu, who sought the ticket of
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2014, had challenged the emergence of
Ikpeazu as the state governor on the grounds that he allegedly submitted false
tax papers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He had urged the court to nullify
the election of Ikpeazu and declare him the governor of Abia.
In the lead judgment, Amina
Adamu-Augie, a judge, described the appeal as “frivolous and lacking in
merit’’.
She awarded fine of N4 million
against the appellant (Nwosu) to be paid N1 million each to four respondents to
the appeal.
The respondents in the suit are
Samson Ogah, the PDP Ikpeazu and the Independent National Electoral Commission,
(INEC).
The lead judgment was read on
behalf of Augie by Sidi Bage.
Nwosu had, in his appeal,
challenged the judgment of the court of appeal sitting in Owerri, Imo state
capital, which declined jurisdiction in the case.
The appellate court panel of five
justices presided over by Jimi Bada had ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction
to hear and determine the appeal.
Specifically, the court held that
Nwosu’s appeal was similar to the suit also filed against Ikpeazu by Uche Ogah
which the apex court had decided on May 12, 2017.
Nwosu had instituted the suit at
the federal high court, Owerri, presided over by A.L. Lewis.
Lewis had on July 8, 2016,
dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, he
proceeded to the court of appeal and finally, the supreme court.
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