Abia Governorship: Appeal Court Throws Out Justice Abang’s Ruling

The Court of Appeal in Abuja today nullified the judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court which sacked the Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu on June 27.

In a unanimous ruling by five judges, the Court of Appeal held that the learned Justice Abang erred in law and occasioned a miscarriage of justice by declaring the sack of Ikpeazu and ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to issue a certificate of return to Sampson Ogah.

Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju who read the lead judgement said Justice Abang “committed a grave violence against one of the pillars of justice” which is fair hearing in his decision. The judge also said that by directing INEC to issue that certificate of return to Ogah, Abang “placed the law on its head.”

The court therefore awarded a N100,000 cost against Ogah and declared Governor Ikpeazu’s appeal as upheld.