The All Progressive Congress (APC) has petitioned three justices of the Supreme Court over the Imo North Senatorial District bye-election held on December 5, 2021.
This development moved the apex court to suspend indefinitely, hearing in the appeal brought before it by Francis Ibezim over the Imo North Senatorial District bye-election.
When the appeal was called for hearing on Tuesday, Justice Muhammed Musa Datijo, who led a five-member panel of justices of the apex court, informed counsel in the matter that the proceeding will not go on as scheduled.
He stated the intervening time chairman of the APC and the governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni had written a petition in opposition to him and two other justices, Helen Ogunwumiju and Abdu Aboki, accusing them of having a meeting with members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to subvert justice inside the case.
He said the APC alleged that: “My humble self had led my two brothers to attend a assembly with individuals of the PDP to strategize the way to subvert the outcome of this situation.
“I should say that this is maximum unfortunate and my heart bleeds for this u . S .. If humans as especially placed because the meantime chairperson of the APC would open his mouth and make this weighty statement against innocent justices of this courtroom, then I say my coronary heart bleeds.
“We aren't interested in any be counted and I project him and the celebration to confirm his allegation that my humble self attended a assembly with members of the PDP on the way to subverting the hobby in their birthday party.
“This is a reckless and irresponsible announcement. That is how these vain statements have been made within the beyond and that is why we aren't taking it possibly.
“If they have got honour, allow them to substantiate their allegations and I will not depart an afternoon longer on this courtroom.
“So, this rely is adjourned sine-die (Indefinitely) and events need to method the Chief Justice of the Federation,” Justice Datijo stated.
Responding, Ahmed Raji (SAN), recommend to Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, a senatorial aspirant, stated he was greatly surprised to pay attention approximately the allegations made against the Justices.
According to the senior attorney, “this is very stunning. I swear with my last day on this court that I, Ahmed Raji, know nothing approximately this difficulty and I condemn it with all of the electricity in me.
“I sympathise along with your lordships and anything degree your lordship deems appropriate, we're absolutely in help,” Raji said.
Umeh Kalu, counsel to the APC stated he turned into just listening to of the petition for the first time, noting that, “I am taken aback by using this. I actually have never in my existence met with the intervening time chairman of the APC.
“In matters of this nature, we usually address the criminal adviser. In the primary area, PDP is not a party on this be counted,” he stated.
Ifeanyi Ararume and Francis Ibezim, each members of the APC have been in a legal warfare over the seat of the senator representing the Imo North Senatorial District inside the Senate.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared APC because the winner of the bye-election however refused to announce any individual because the genuine candidate of the party on the grounds of conflicting courtroom orders for and towards the two major contenders.
However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on March 18, 2021, ordered INEC to problem Ararume with the certificate of return.
The healthy earlier than the apex court is that which seeks to upturn the judgment of Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja and that of the Court of Appeal which nullified Ibezim’s candidature due to the fact that he made a fake declaration in the files he submitted to INEC.
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