Embattled Governor of Abia State, Ikezie Ikpeazu, on Monday urged an Abuja Federal High Court to speedily rule on his appeal for stay of execution against a previous judgement by the same court sacking him as governor of the state.
The Justice Abang Okon led court had on Monday last week ordered Ikpeazu to vacate his office.
The judge also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue the certificate of return to the Peoples Democratic Party’s second governorship aspirant in the 2014 primaries, Uche Ogah, which was done on Thursday last week.
However, Ogah is yet to be sworn in by the Chief Judge of the State, Theresa Uzokwe, prompting the rumour that she has absconded.
At today’s hearing, counsel to the embattled Governor, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court of the motion dated 28, June 2016 which was for the the stay of execution in the court’s previous ruling.
He informed the Justice Abang court that his client had filed a better affidavit in response to the matter for stay of execution.
Olanipekun said, “Ikpeazu has so sent his legal team to file a better and comprehensive notice of appeal on the stay of proceedings than the one filed on the 28 June, 2016.
“We want to bring up this notice to your lordship’s attention ,including the fact that Ikpeazu wants the matter resolved speedily with the speed of light if possible.
However, Olanipekun asked the court for an adjournment to allow the legal team of the embattled governor time to respond to the affidavit filed by the defendant, Ogah.
“We are not used to asking for adjournment but we are asking for the deferment of the matter till the next available working day in view of the public holiday,” he said.
But counsel to Ogah, Dr Alex Izinyon urged the court to refuse the application for adjournment.
Izinyon argued that Ikpeazu went to get an order from an Abia State High Court on 30,June 2016 seeking that his client be stopped from being sworn in as governor of the state when the appeal for stay of execution was pending.
He contended that the move by Ikpeazu was wrong and as such should not be entertained by the court.
More to follow…
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