Updated: Justice Okon Abang Rules Against Ikpeazu, Affirms His Removal as Governor

Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu

 

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, in two separately rulings affirmed that the certificate of return issued to Uche Ogah by the Independent National Electoral Commission which gives way for him to be sworn in as Governor of Abia State, was valid and lawful.

 

Justice Abang further dismissed the motions for stay of execution filed by Ikpeazu and the Peoples Democratic Party removing Okezie Ikpeazu as Governor of Abia State and ordering Ogah to be sworn in.

 

He said the stay of execution motions could no longer be stayed since the Independent National Electoral Commission had already issued fresh certificate of return to Ogah.

 

According to him, the judgment removing Ikpeazu remained valid until it is set aside by the Court of Appeal.

 

The judge ruled, “The order of the court subsists until set aside by the Court of Appeal.

“Therefore, the INEC lawfully issued Certificate of Return to Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah as it was in line with the judgment of this court.”

 

It would be recalled that on June 27, the judge removed Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State over tax forgery.