Skip to main content

Supreme Court stands-down to rule on APC’s application for review of Bayelsa verdict.

Supreme Court, APC, Bayelsa

By Chukewuemeka Paul 

 Abuja The Supreme Court has stood down its proceeding to enable it deliver judgement on fresh applications seeking to set-aside its February 13 judgement that sacked David Lyon and Degi-Eremieoyo as governor and deputy-governor elect of Bayelsa state.

A seven-man panel of justices of the apex court headed by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, stood down after it heard the two applications that were filed by Lyon and his deputy, as well as the All Progressive Congress, APC, on Wednesday.

Lyon and his deputy had through their lawyer, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, maintained that the Supreme Court has inherent powers to set-aside its own judgement when it constituted a nullity. Babalola, SAN, contended that the judgement was a nullity as it amounted to a breach of the right of fair hearing of his clients. “The procedure adopted by this court on February 13 was such that deprived the judgement of the character of a legitimate adjudication”, he argued, saying the previous panel that was headed by Justice Mary Odili failed to consider the issue of cause of action before it disqualified both Lyon and Degi-Eremieoyo. Likewise, the APC, through its lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, also argued a similar application he filed on February 23 to challenge the judgement he said was entered in error.

However, all the Respondents, urged the apex court to dismiss the two applications for constituting an abuse of the judicial process. They argued that granting the applications would set a bad precedent and open the floodgate for frivolous requests for review of past decisions of the apex court. Aside Governor Douye Diri and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhruojakpo, other Respondents in the matter are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Biden pressed on child migration at first news conference

US President Joe Biden was pressed on how he would address the surge in migrants at the southern border at his first official press conference. More than 17,000 children are being kept in government detention centres and Mr Biden was challenged on whether his policies could be contributing to the increase in child arrivals. The president defended his record and vowed to be transparent. The hour-long event also covered subjects from guns to foreign policy. He also doubled his administration's vaccine rollout goal, saying that he now aims to have 200 million jabs be given before his 100th day in office. But questions about the situation at the US-Mexico border dominated the event. What did Biden say about the surge? During the White House news conference, Mr Biden blamed his predecessor Donald Trump for the growing humanitarian crisis on the southern border, and said it was normal for the US to experience an influx of migrants in cooler months. "The truth of the matter is, nothi...
Post a Comment
Read more

AFCONQ: Super Eagles skipper, five other players arrive in Lagos

  The Super Eagles camp in Lagos is already bubbling with some early arrivals ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifying matches against the Benin Republic and Lesotho. According to the updates from the Super Eagles official Twitter handle, six of the invited players for the March 27 and 30 games are already in town with a handful more expected on Monday. The national team captain, Ahmed Musa is among the early birds along with the England-based trio of William Troost-Ekong, Ola Aina, and Semi Ajayi. The Galatasary duo of Henry Onyekuru, as well as Oghenekaro Etebo, have also arrived at the Super Eagles camp in Lagos ahead of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header against Benin and Lesotho. More players are expected to arrive at the team’s camp on Monday as they look to begin preparations for the qualifiers. Coach Gernot Rohr originally invited 24 players for these two games in Porto Novo and Lagos. The Franco-German has, however, had to make some ch...
Post a Comment
Read more

Banditry and kidnapping are not federal offence, states including those being controlled by it should be called out instead - FG

  Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has said that combating banditry and kidnapping are not part of the duties of the federal government.   The Minister made the comment while reacting to PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus's call for President Muhammadu Buhari to sit up and tackle the challenges headlong.   Secondus who raised concern over the growing insecurity around the country,  decried the increase of cases of murder, kidnapping and other acts of terrorism across the country, especially in Kaduna, Niger, Benue,  Katsina and Zamafara. Reacting to this, Lai Mohammed said banditry and kidnapping are not federal offence and Governors of the states where such crimes are carried out should be held responsible. He also claimed that Buhari had successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members.   He said;   “The PDP alleged that kidnappers and bandits are not being brought to justice. This is apparently aimed at the f...
Post a Comment
Read more