Abia State has been riddled with
a political confusion over who is
the rightful governor of the
South-east state.



The tussle will now endure at
least untill Thursday, when the
Federal High Court, Abuja, will
give its ruling on the stay-of-
execution order filed by
embattled Okezie Ikpeazu.



Premium Times reports that the
court on Monday fixed July 7 to
rule on the application filed by
Mr. Ikpeazu, whose election was
annulled and certificate of return
withdrawn.



Mr. Ikpeazu filed the stay-of-
execution application days after
the court sacked him from office
for failing to pay his personal
income tax as at when due.
Hearing the application on
Monday, Justice Okong Abang
declined to set aside his
judgment, saying he would hear
other applications on the matter
on Thursday.



The counsel to Mr. Ikpeazu,
Wole Olanikpekun, had asked
the court to set aside the earlier
order for a certificate of return to
be given to Mr. Ogah.

But counsel to Mr. Ogah, Alex
Izinyon, filed a counter-affidavit
against Mr. Ikpeazu’s
application for stay of execution.
Mr. Olanipekun then asked for
time to look into the details of
Mr. Izinyon’s argument in the
counter-affidavit.


He also prayed the court to treat
the matter without delay.
Justice Abang then fixed the
next working day, July 7, to hear
the application and other
applications in the matter.
The Federal Government has
fixed Tuesday July 5 and
Wednesday July 6 as public
holidays so Nigerian muslims
can join their counterparts
around the world for end-of-
Ramadan festivities. July 7 is
the next working day in the
country.


Justice Abang had on June 27
sacked Mr. Ikpeazu as governor
after the court found him guilty
by of tax evasion.
Mr. Abang had, in that judgment,
directed the Independent
National Elector*l Commission
(INEC) to issue certificate of
return to Mr. Ogah who came
second in the primaries
conducted by the Peoples
Democratic Party in the state.
In a swift reaction to the
judgment, Mr. Ikpeazu filed an
appeal before the Appeal Court
in Abuja. He also filed a motion
for stay of execution of the
judgment at the Federal High
Court.



However in compliance with the
court order, INEC issued Mr.
Ogah a certificate of return on
June 30, and he (Mr. Ogah)
immediately headed to Abia to
be sworn in as governor.
But an Abia State High Court
hurriedly issued an injunction
stopping the state’s chief judge
or any other judicial official in
the state from administering the
oath of office on Mr. Ogah,
pending the determination of the
motion on notice at the Court of
Appeal.



“Upon this motion ex-parte
pursuant to section 143 (1) &
(2) of the Elector*l Act 2010 (as
amended) and pending the
determination of the motion on
notice, after hearing O.O Nkume,
counsel to the applicant,”
Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu
said.



“It is ordered that an order of
injunction is hereby made
restraining the 2nd defendant
(INEC) from issuing a certificate
of return to the 1st defendant
(Ogah) while the claimant
(Ikpeazu) remains in office in
accordance with section 143 (1)
& (2) of the Elector*l Act 2010
(as amended) and pending the
determination of the motion on
notice.


“It is further ordered that the 3rd
defendant (chief judge of Abia
State) or any other judge of the
court or any judiciary officer are
hereby restricted from swearing-
in the 1st defendant (Ogah)
while the claimant (Ikpeazu)
remains in office in accordance
with section 143 (1) & (2) of the
Elector*l Act 2010 (as amended)
and pending the determination
of the motion on notice.”



The state has, consequently,
remained without a clear
leadership since Thursday.





www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/206410-abia-remain-without-governor-till-july-7.html

Hmmmmmm, this is serious.