Okezie Ikpeazu affirmed as Abia state Governor by Federal high court

Justice A.I Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Owerri has affirmed the election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State. Ex-governorship aspirant, Barr. Friday Nwosu took Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to court over alleged forged tax certificates.

The court ruled today that Nwosu was unable to prove that the tax documents were forged thereby dismissing the matter.

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Also, Abia State High Court in Osisioma granted a motion filed by Okezie Ikpeazu for the extension of the order restraining the Chief Judge of Abia State, the President Abia State Customary Court of Appeal and any other judicial officer from swearing in Mr. Uche Ogah, as governor of the state. The order stands extended to the 18th day of July 2016.

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Tension in Abia as Court stops Chief Justice from swearing-in Uche Ogahas Governor

A few hours after Ogah collected his Certificate of Return in Abuja yesterday, an Abia State High Court in Osisioma stopped the Chief Judge of the state or any other judge in the state from inaugurating Ogah as directed by Justice Abang on Monday.

The presiding judge in the court, Justice C. H. Ahuchaogu, equally made a belated order stopping INEC from issuing a Certificate of Return to Ogah as the winner of the 2015 governorship election in the state.

In a suit, HOS 52/2016, by Ikpeazu, Justice Ahuchaogu ordered “that the third Defendant (state CJ) or any other judge of the court or any judicial officer are hereby restrained from swearing in the first Defendant (Ogah) while the claimant remains in office in accordance with Section 143(1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and pending the determination of the motion on notice.”

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The issuance of the Certificate of Return to Ogah and the pronouncement of the Abia State High Court have created confusion on who is the valid governor of the state.

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, on Thursday, announced that the government had declared Friday (today) and Monday next week as work-free days in memory of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, who died on Wednesday.

He said the gesture was in recognition of the immense contribution of the deceased, who hailed from the state to the development of the state and Nigeria in general.

Similarly, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro, expressed surprise at the sudden death of Maduekwe, who he said worked tirelessly for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

But the Peoples Democratic Party in the state described the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja as a threat to democracy in the country.

Addressing newsmen at Government House on Thursday, the state chairman of the party, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, said the party would resist any attempt by any person or group to undermine the peace in the state.

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Breaking News: Uche Ogah is the new Abia governor

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a certificate of return to Uche Ogah as the new governor of Abia state.

Ogah, the candidate who placed second at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Abi state governorship primary in 2015 suddenly finds himself on the brink of becoming governor, following Monday’s judgement of a federal high court sitting in Abuja that Okezie Ikpeazu, the party’s candidate and winner of the governorship election, was not qualified to hold the office.

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Justice Okon Abang, giving judgment on a suit filed by Ogah, agreed with the plaintiff that Ikpeazu evaded tax prior to his election, and as such was‎ not qualified to hold an elective office.

He ordered the removal of Ikpeazu and also ordered Abang also ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return it issued to Ikpeazu‎, and re-award it to Ogah, who had received 103 votes to Ikpeazu’s 487 at the primary election.

The electoral body complied with the order on Thursday.

This is the latest in a series of legal battles Ikpeazu has faced.

His election was previously challenged by Alex Otti, the candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance‎ (APGA) in the April 2015 governorship election.

Although an election petition‎ tribunal upheld his election, the appeal sacked him. However, the supreme court returned him as governor.

Ikpeazu, who has since appealed against the order of the court, earlier urged his supporters not to panic because he “remains the governor of the state according to law”.

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Breaking News! Court Orders Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu Tovacate Office Immediately

Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, to vacate his office immediately, after finding him guilty of submitting false information to his party, the PDP during the party’s governorship primary in December 2014.

Some months ago, Ikpeazu’s rival at the primary, Uche Ogah, had petitioned the court and provided evidence to show that Ikpeazu had indeed provided false information about himself to their party. 

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After listening to the counsels of both politicians, the presiding judge ordered INEC to immediately issue a certificate of return to Ogah.

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