The Court of Appeal in Abuja, on Tuesday, gave Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State the nod to remain on seat pending the determination of the appeal challenging his removal from office.
The appellate court took the decision before it slated August 9 to hear eight separate appeals that arose from judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja that sacked Ikpeazu from office over alleged tax fraud.
Trial Justice Okon Abang had on June 27, ordered Ikpeazu to immediately vacate the governorship seat, even as he directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue fresh Certificate of Return to Mr. Sampson Ogah who came second in the governorship primary election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, conducted in Abia State on December 8, 2014.
Justice Abang said he was satisfied that Ikpeazu perjured by giving false information in the Form 8C001 and documents accompanying it, which he submitted to both PDP and the INEC.
The judge, in another ruling he delivered on July 8, declined Ikpeazu's plea for stay of execution of the judgment that sacked him.
Justice Abang dismissed as lacking in merit, an application that sought to void the enrolled order of the judgment, noting that the appellate court was already seized of the facts of the case.
While maintaining that Ikpeazu's sack remained valid until the appellate court decides otherwise, Justice Abang said there was nothing for him to stay since INEC had already executed the order he made on June 27 by issuing Certificate of Return to Ogah as it was directed to do.
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