BEVERLY HILLS, JULY 26, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Tuesday postponed an appeal filed by Governor Okezie Ikepeazu of Abia state, challenging a Federal High Court judgment that declared him unfit to hold office.
The decision of the court to postpone the appeal of Ikpeazu to August 9 was due to the submission of the fifth respondent in the case, Friday Iwunzo, that he had equal rights to be part of the suit filed by Uche Ogah.
Justice Morenike Ogunwumiju of Court of Appeal ordered maintenance of status quo in relation to governorship of Abia State pending determination of appeal filed by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu against the judgment of Federal High Court sacking him from office.
The Judge, leading a panel of five justices of the appellate court ruled that “both parties should remain as they were to allow the court expeditious hearing of various complaints brought before this court,” implying that Governor Okezie will remain in office during the hearing of the appeal.
Ogah, 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 the presiding judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Justice Okon Abang, gave the judgment declaring Ikpeazu unfit to hold office.
