Nigeria’s Senate President, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan on Thursday swore in the immediate past governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha as the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District at the National Assembly.

Okorocha was on Tuesday issued his Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

The Court held that the electoral umpire had no power to withhold Okorocha’s Certificate of Return and therefore ordered that he be issued with same.

INEC had held on to Okorocha’s Certificate of Return because in announcing his victory at the poll, the Returning Officer, Prof Innocent Ibeawuchi had openly declared that he was doing so under duress.

However, having obeyed the court order and duly issued Okorocha with the Certificate of Return, INEC this Thursday announced that it is going ahead to appeal the judgement of the Abuja High Court.