Melaye’s Recall: Judge Transfers Case To Appeal Court; INEC Withdraws Motion

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that all issues pertaining to the recall process of Senator Dino Melaye be taken to the Court of Appeal.

This is coming as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, on Thursday withdrew its motion seeking an order of the Federal High Court to allow it to serve the recall petition on the Kogi West Senator through substituted means rather than personal service.

Melaye’s counsel, Nkem Okoro, had informed the court that his client’s record of appeal at the Appeal Court had already been received and therefore a valid appeal was already pending at the higher court.

Justice Dimgba noted that since Melaye’s appeal against the court’s September 11 judgment had been entered at the Court of Appeal, all pending applications, including the ones filed by Melaye for stay of execution of the verdict, should be taken to the Court of Appeal.