UPDATED: Bayelsa: Supreme Court Strikes Out APC’s Application, Fines Party, Lyon’s Lawyers

The Supreme Court has ruled that its decision that nullified the election of David Lyon, the former governor elect of Bayelsa State, stands.

The judgment was passed on Wednesday, by a seven-man panel led by Sylvester Ngwunta.

The court ruled that the two applications filed by APC’s counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and David Lyon’s lawyer, Afe Babalola (SAN) lacked merit.

The judgment, which was read by Justice Amina Augie, added that the applicants did not point out a mistake on the part of the Supreme court regarding the earlier verdict, and that the use of “shall” in its application was very wrong.

The panel also frowned at the applicants’ “frivolous application” and “professional misconduct”.

“With tears in my eyes, I cannot believe that in my lifetime I will see very senior members of the bar bring applications of this nature which are aimed at desecrating the sanctity of the court,” Augie said.

The apex court also fined both the APC and Lyon’s lawyers, directing each of them to personally pay N10 million to the three respondents – the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Governor Duoye Diri, and his deputy, Lawrence Ewhruojakpo.

“There must be an end to litigation,” Augie said.

The apex court heard the presentations of both the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic People(PDP), on Wednesday, regarding the nullification of David Lyon’s governorship candidacy in Bayelsa state.

While the APC counsel urged the court to review its decision on the basis of errors, the PDP counsel prayed the court to dismiss the applications.