Supreme Court rules on suit against Gov Ikpeazu

The Supreme Court on Friday in Abuja dismissed an application filed by
Mr Friday Nwosu, praying the court to disqualify Okezie Ikpeazu as
democratically elected governor of Abia State.

Nwosu, a governorship aspirant in the 2014 PDP governorship primaries
had challenged the nomination and emergence of Ikpeazu as the state
governor on the grounds that he submitted "false'' tax papers to INEC.

He had urged the court to nullify the election of Ikpeazu and declare
him (Nwosu) the governor of Abia.

Justice Amina Adamu-Augie, in the lead judgment, described the appeal
as "frivolous and lacking in merit''.

The Justice 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 Mr Samson Ogah, the Peoples'
Democratic Party, (PDP), Ikpeazu and the Independent National
Electoral Commission, (INEC).

NAN reports that the lead judgment was read on behalf of Justice Augie
by Justice Sidi Bage.

Nwosu had, in his appeal, challenged the judgment of the Court of
Appeal sitting in Owerri which declined jurisdiction in the case.

The appellate court panel of five Justices presided over by Justice
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, who contested the Dec. 8, 2014 PDP governorship primaries had
accused Ikpeazu of submitting false information and fake tax documents
to INEC.

He had instituted the suit at the Federal High Court, Owerri, presided
over by Justice A.L. Lewis.

Justice 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.