Ihedioha Vs Uzodinma: Dismiss Ihedioha’s Motion, Uzodinma Urges Court

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Imo state Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma has implored the Apex Court in not Nigeria to dispel an application filed by former governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.

It would be recalled that Ihedioha had filed an appeal seeking judicial review of the supreme  court’s judgement which had on January 14, 2020, ordered his removal from office.

Uzodimma’s preliminary objection was against a motion on notice dated Feb. 5, filed by Ihedioha and PDP.

They prayed the Supreme Court for an order setting aside “as a nullity the judgment delivered by it on January 14.

Uzodimma and APC’s preliminary objection against Ihedioha was brought pursuant to Section 6(6)(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

The objection raised and argued the competence of the motion and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain same, as it, therefore urged the supreme court to strike out the said motion.

According to them, the application being a proceeding relating to or arising from election of a governor is barred by effluxion of time.

“The application constitutes an invitation to the Supreme Court to sit on appeal over its final decision” Uzodimma posited.

They submitted that having delivered its final decision, the Supreme Court has become fuctus officio and divested of jurisdiction over the same subject matter.
 

They said: Order 8 Rule 16 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 prohibits the apex court from reviewing its judgment once given and delivered, save to correct clerical mistakes or accidental slip.

“The judgment sought to be set aside having been given effect by the inauguration of Uzodinma as Governor of Imo , this Honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to grant the prayer sought”.

More so, Uzodimma stated that Ihedioha’s application “constitutes an abuse of court process” and “is against public policy.

He added that the application filed by the ousted governor amounts to an invitation to the Court to indulge in academic exercise and answer hypothetical questions.

According to NAN’s report, after the March 9, 2019 gubernatorial election in Imo state, INEC had declared Ihedioha as winner of the poll.

Aggrieved by the declaration of Ihedioha by INEC as winner of the governorship election, Uzodimma and APC challenged the said declaration, hence the petition

The petition ultimately led to the appeal by Uzodimma and APC against the decision of the Court of Appeal which by majority decision dismissed their appeal against the decision of the Election Tribunal to apex court.

Uzodimma also reminded the Supreme Court that that amongst the orders issued in the judgment by His Lordships was Order 7 which read: “It is hereby ordered that a certificate of return shall be issued to the 1st appellant, Uzodinma forthwith and he should be sworn in as the Governor of lmo State immediately.

He said the above order has since been made effective by his inauguration as the Governor of lmo.

However, the Supreme Court on Jan. 14, held that there was merit in the appeal filed by Uzodimma and allowed same.

Consequently, the judgment of the lower court affirming the judgment of the Governorship Election Tribunal which declared Ihedioha winner of the Imo governorship election, was set aside.

Among the orders, the Supreme Court declared that votes due to the Uzodinma and APC from 388 polling units were wrongly excluded from the score ascribed to them.

It ordered that the appellants’ votes from the 388 polling units unlawfully excluded from the Appellants’ score shall be added to the results declared by the INEC.

The Supreme Court also declared that Ihedioha was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the said election, and that his return as the elected Governor of Imo was null and void and accordingly set aside.

…Culled From Vanguard News
 

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Home » Politics » APC writes INEC, demands fresh governorship election in Bayelsa

APC writes INEC, demands fresh governorship election in Bayelsa

ON FEBRUARY 16, 20208:57 PMIN POLITICS

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding for a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa.

Mr Yekini Nabena, the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, said this at a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Supreme Court had on Thursday nullified the election of APC governorship candidate in Bayelsa, David Lyon.

Nabena said that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, made the request in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu titled: “Judgement in Appeal No: SC.1/2020 between Peoples Democratic Party and APC”.

READ ALSO: Bayelsa: Sylva apologises to Buhari, describes Supreme Court verdict as provocative

According to him, APC has formally demanded a fresh governorship election in Bayelsa.

“The party’s National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole while affirming the supremacy of the Apex Court, forwarded a letter to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu titled: Judgement in Appeal No: SC.1/2020 between Peoples Democratic Party and APC, requesting for conduct of fresh governorship election in Bayelsa,” he said.

The APC chieftain demanded that the rule of law must be adhered to, in the case of the Bayelsa governorship election.

“When the Supreme Court decided against the PDP on the Imo governorship poll, the party in protest by its National Chairman, Uche Secondus, went around the European Union, UK and US embassies wailing that ‘Nigeria’s democracy is under threat.

More in Home

Bayelsa: Sylva calls for calm, describes Supreme Court verdict as provocative

Uzodinma asked to emulate Peter Obi, Willie Obiano

NDLEA arrests NAMA staff over drug trafficking at Lagos Airport

Imo Governorship: Uzodinma asks Supreme Court to dismiss Ihedioha’s motion

APC writes INEC, demands fresh governorship election in Bayelsa

“What has suddenly changed in the case of the Bayelsa governorship election?

“This only goes to show that these foreign concerns and all Nigerians must be wary of such politics and insincere antics of the PDP.

“The contention on the Bayelsa governorship is far from over. We are all aware of the NYSC certificate forgery case of the Bayelsa deputy governor, Sen. Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo.

“And the decision of the APC National leadership to continue to pursue all legal avenues to contest INEC’s decision to declare Duoye Diri as Bayelsa Governor, having failed to meet the mandatory constitutional requirement to become the governor,” he said

He urged all lovers of democracy to ensure that the rule of law was adhered to, not only in the case of Bayelsa but in all matters.

According to him, democracy is a game of numbers and the majority must have their way.

Vanguard Nigeria News

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DAVID O ROYAL

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Home » News » NDLEA arrests NAMA staff over drug trafficking at Lagos Airport

NDLEA arrests NAMA staff over drug trafficking at Lagos Airport

ON FEBRUARY 16, 20209:10 PMIN NEWS

By Lawani Mikairu

Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, weekend arrested a staff of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport ,MMIA, Lagos for drug trafficking.

The suspect was initially apprehended by officials of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, before he was handed over to the NDLEA.

The suspect whose identity was not immediately made known was arrested in the official vehicle of NAMA at the airside of the airport when he attempted to courier the drug through that aspect of the airport. He is said to be one of the official drivers of the airspace management agency.

READ ALSO: NDLEA seizes 10.5 tons of illicit drugs in Maiduguri

“The drug, which was believed to be cocaine was in big cartons and hidden inside the NAMA vehicle by the driver and his cohorts”.

A source close to the scene of the incident said ” the driver was not the only culprit arrested for the attempted courier of the illegal substance, as some members of the drug cartel were also apprehended by the AVSEC officials”.

The suspect is said to have confessed to the crime and was assisting the anti-drug agency in its investigations. It was also gathered that the initial forensic test conducted on the drug by NDLEA confirmed the suspect was carrying banned substance.