Supreme Court yesterday, Thursday 26th, September, 2019 dismissed the appeal filed against Hon Chike Okafor, challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which returned him as the authentic elected member for Ehime Mbano, Ihitte Uboma, Obowo or Okigwe South Federal Constituency, in the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.
Lawyer to the Appellant, Mrs Uzoma Mary-Ann, Mohammed Ndariani Mohammed, had on the 16/8/2019 filed a notice of appeal challenging the decision of the court of appeal Abuja division which set aside the judgment of the FCT.
High Court in Kubwa, presided over by Kawo Bello J. Both him, and the Counsel to the 3rd Respondent, Hon Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Prof Hakeem Olaniyan, had vigorously argued the appeal to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which confirmed the mandate on Hon. Chike Okafor, who is a returning member.
But Mr. Solomon Umoh (SAN), Principal Counsel to Hon. Chike Okafor and Mr Babatunde Kwame Ogala, counsel to the 2nd respondent, APC raised preliminary objections to the competence of the appeal. However, after examining all the arguments from both parties to the case, the Supreme Court of 5 man panel, consisting of; Justice Olabode Rhode Vivour; Justice Chima Centus Nweze; Justice Aminu Sanusi; Justice Ejembi Eko, asserted that Deacon Chike Okafor remains validly nominated by APC and scored the highest votes cast during the election and its repeat.
Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, who read the judgment on behalf of the others declared that the panel unanimously upheld the objections and dismissed the appeal for being incompetent.
