The lingering controversy, battle of wits litigations, subtle and obvious manipulations associated with the vacant Imo North senatorial seat will soon be over, as the supreme court, will deliver it’s long awaited judgment on the matter by 11am tomorrow.
It is also expected that the two major contenders in the matter, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume and Frank Ibezim both of who incidentally are of the All Progressive Congress APC will know their fate and heave sighs of relief.
It was gathered that the matter was called up yesterday at the apex court in Abuja, and after hearing Appeal 971 and submissions of the respondents, the learned judge said, she would stand down judgment till they hear Appeal SC/972. “They went out for 5 minutes before subsequently hearing Appeal 972. Thereafter, the matter was adjourned till 11am tomorrow, Friday 5th February”.
Recall, that the Nigeria Watchdog newspaper had in its Tuesday’s edition reported that there were indications that the Supreme Court would on or before January 7th 2021 give judgment on who would eventually occupy the Imo North Senatorial slot made vacant by the death of Senator Bejamin Uwajumogu.
This, according to the Watchdog report was made public last Monday, at the mention of three appeals filed before the apex court by parties interested in the issue.
“The first appeal marked: SC/97/ 2020 was filed by Senator Ifeanyi Godwin Ararume against Lady Uchenna Onyeiwu Uba and four others, the second, marked SC/971/2020also filed by Ararume against Chukwuma Frank Ibezim and others and SC/1060/2020 field by Dr Edith Chidnma Uwajumogu against Chukwuma Frank Ibezim and others”.
It would also be recalled the independent National Electoral Commission INEC, returned the APC as winner of the Imo North bye election held on December 5 2020, without mentioning any particular candidate as beneficiary of the controversial victory because there are many decisions against the two major contenders from the APC, Ifeanyi Ararume and Frank Ibezim.
When the appeals were called on Monday 18 January and upon enquiring by the court, Ahmed Sani (SAN) who led Ararume’s legal team told the court that the three appeals were on the same issue.
Lawyer to one of the respondents in the second appeal, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), said the appeal that involves his client is slightly different but were all about who is the authentic candidate of the APC for the Imo North bye election.
Because the appeals, being pre election related, would lapse on February 7, a five man panel of the court, led by Justice Amina Augie elected to hear the first appeal for the other two to abide. She assured the parties involved that all issues would be considered in the single judgment that will be rendered. She expressed dismay at the joinders filed by Chino Obiagwu on behalf of PDP, saying that the court has no business in a matter relating to APC’s internal affairs.
