The lead judge of the five-member panel at the Court of Appeal, Morenike Ogunwuniju said that all parties involved in the case must maintain status quo pending the decision of the Court of Appeal on an appeal filed before it.
Ogunwuniju also advised that all motions filed before the court, be set aside pending the decision of the Appeal Court on the appeal filed by Okezie Ikpeazu who is currently the Abia state governor.
But objecting to the court’s decision on “staying as you were”, counsel to Uche Ogah said ge feared that the court’s decision would be misinterpreted as a stay of execution of a Federal High Court order.
However continuing, Ogunwuniju said it would be wrong for any party involved to misinterpret the court’s decision.
The lead judge further ruled that the matter be adjourned to Tuesday, August 9, for hearing. Explaining that this decision is followed on the need for the court to give judgement on the appeal before it.
Wole Olanikpekun, the counsel to the governor of Abia state Okezie Ikpeazu while speaking on the matter, informed the court of a leave of execution by the appellant for an appeal filed on Monday, July 18.
He told the court that there was an affidavit and two further affidavits in support of the application. Ogunwuniju ordered that the applicant within three days from Wednesday, July 27, file its order.
The court also ordered that the respondents have three days each – which would run concurrently – to file their reply.
Also, the appellant is allowed another three days after the respondents have filed their reply to file any other reply if necessary.
The judge further adjourned the matter to Thursday, August 4, for hearing on the matter.
We remember that a Federal High Court in Abuja had on June 27, ordered the present governor of Abia state Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate his seat. Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja High Court in his ruling, had said that Ikpeazu was guilty of tax evasion.
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