Okezie Ikpeazu to Remain Governor until Court Rules (DETAILS)

A court sitting in the Federal Capital Abuja,has ruled that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State should remain on seat until the determination of a suit challenging his earlier removal from office.

Premium Times reports, a five-member panel of judges of the Appellate court led by Morenike Ogunwumiju, said the parties in the matter must “remain as they were” before the case was brought before the court.

She however explained that the ruling did not translate to a stay-of-execution order.

A Federal High Court had on June 27 nullified Mr. Ikpeazu’s election as Abia state governor after finding him guilty of tax offenses.

The trial judge Okon Abang, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Uche Ogah a certificate of return.

On Tuesday, counsel to Mr. Uche Ogah argued at the Appeal Court that Mr. Ikpeazu was no longer recognised by law as the de facto governor of the state due to the ruling.

He said there were conflicting judgments on the matter.

But the judge, Mrs. Ogunwumiju, said the court’s order should not be misinterpreted.

She said the decision of the court was for parties to “remain as they were”, and should not be misconstrued as meaning that the appellate court had issued a stay-of-execution order.