An appeal filed by the embattled Abia State Governor Okezie Ikepeazu, challenging a federal high court judgement that declared him unfit to hold office, has just been postponed by the court of appeal sitting today in Abuja.
According to TheCable News, the decision of the court to postpone the appeal of Ikepeazu to August 9 was due to the submission of Friday Iwunzo, the 5th respondent, that he had equal rights to be part of the suit filed by Uche Ogah.
The 5-man panel, which did not earlier recognise Iwunzo as part of the suit, said Ikpeazu remains governor till August 4, when Iwunzo’s suit will now be heard.
Recall that Uche Sampsom Ogar, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, had contended that the governor evaded tax prior to his election, and as such was not qualified to hold an elective office.
It was on this basis that, Okon Abang, the presiding judge, of the high court gave the judgment declaring Ikepeazu unfit to hold office.
Meanwhile, Alex Iziyon, counsel to Ogar, in his submission at the appeal court, said Ikepeazu may not be described as the “legal”occupant of the Abia government house following judgements from other courts on the matter.
Iziyon explained that if he agreed to sign an undertaking recognising Ikepeazu as governor, pending when the court rules on the matter, other meanings maybe read to it.
Wole Olanipekun, counsel to Ikepeazu, on his part, said he also had his own “grievances” in the appeal but he would abide by whatever the court says.
However, both parties signed the undertaking.
The court declared that Ikepeazu remains the governor of Abia state, pending the ruling of the court.
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