Court Adjourns Ifeanyi Ubah’s Appeal Hearing

The Court of Appeal, Abuja has adjourned hearing on an appeal filed by Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP), following his removal as senator by the Federal Capital Territory high court, Kubwa, Abuja.

A three-man panel led by Justice Stephen Adah, which presided over the hearing on Monday, shifted the hearing to March 12 after dismissing Ubah’s that the court set aside its earlier judgment.

The FCT High court had nullified Ubah’s candidacy in the  April 11, 2019, for allegedly submitting  fake National Examination Council (NECO) certificate to run for the February 23, 2019 senatorial election.

The court also ordered INEC to give a fresh certificate of return to the next person with the next highest vote, Obinna Uzoh of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

But Ubah alleged that the judgment was fraudulent.

Ubah’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu had filed an application to the appeal court claiming that the judgment that removed his client was delivered without jurisdiction in breach of his right to fair hearing.

The respondents in the suit at the Appeal court are Anani Anacletus Chuka, YPP, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Obinna Uzoh(PDP).

Counsel to Ifeanyi, Ikpeazu (SAN) started off by praying the court to adjourn the hearing, citing complications in the matter.

“I would urge my lord to adjourn the appeal, the difficulty I have is that it is a pre-election matter,” he said.

But the judge warned him, adding that if the 7-day time period elapsed, he would strike out the application.

Counsel to the first respondent, M.A Mohammed objected to  the application filed by Ubah’s counsel.

“My lord, we want to react to the motion; however, we also wish to tell the court that we have a preliminary objection,” he said.

Furthermore, counsels to the second and fourth respondents told the court that the appellant just served them the motion on Monday morning, adding that they needed time to respond.

“We were served this morning and we need to respond,” A.A Olaniyi said

The judge told the respondents that they have two days to respond, adding that the hearing was adjourned till March 12.