PRESS STATEMENT

Sunday, 16th February, 2020


Ihedioha vs Uzodinma: Third Force rallies Eminent Leaders of thoughts, Civil Society Leaders for Supreme Court epochal Review on Tuesday


...Commend Supreme Court's decision to review its earlier Ruling.

...Hails the Concern and  Vigilance of the International Community on the matter.

...Admonish Imo people to remain calm.


A group of Eminent Leaders of thoughts and Frontline Leaders in the organised Civil Society as well as the Third Force Movement in Nigeria have commended  the Nigerian Supreme Court for its decision to review its controversial ruling on the Imo State Governorship Elections, which has raised serious questions about the present state of the Nigerian Judiciary


Following intensive Consultations, the group of eminent Persons, in a joint statement issued on Sunday in Abuja and signed by their Spokesperson, Dr. Olusegun Awe Obe said the latest decision of the Apex Court to review its earlier ruling is a sign of maturity and openness by the Judiciary that will go a long way to calm frayed nerves and douse the heightening political tension in south east and the country at large


The group also hailed the International Community and concerned Eminent Nigerians for their diplomatic vigilance and Interventions respectively on the worrisome Supreme Court Judgement on the 2019 Governorship Elections in Imo state, a rulling, which has since foisted strong ripples among Nigerians  over the survival of democracy and peace in South East and Nigeria at large


According to the statement, The group said they plan to further mobilise and rally National leaders of conscience like, Nobel Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka, Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN, Former Head of State, Gen Abdusalami Abubarkar, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Bishop Mathew Kukah, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, Solomon Asemota, SAN, Prof Pat Utomi, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, Comrade Shehu Sanni, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Dr Obby Ezekwesili, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and the International Community, among others, to help monitor the Judicial review on Imo Governorship Elections coming up on Tuesday at the Supreme Court


It will be recalled that the body, had previously avered that apart from the fact that the total valid votes, which the Supreme Court based its ruling on erroneously exceeded the Total Accredited Voters by INEC in the elections, Senator Hope Uzodinma may also not have fulfilled the Constitutional requirements for a validly elected Governor of having to score at least one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the Local Government Areas in the State.


The group also raised the question of double standard in the supreme Court judgement “If their Lordships have already declared Uche Nwosu as the validly elected  candidate, of APC, it’s then illogical to again declare Hope Uzodinma as the validly elected governor on the platform of same APC, since there’s no provision for independent candidate in the Nigerian constitution, "Since, it’s not possible to build something on nothing, it may amount to approbation and reprobation on the part of the Apex Court to declare Uzodinma whose candidature of the APC has been initially rendered a nullity.” The Leaders opined


The Leaders also asserted that the judgment completely overthrows all known judicial precedence and electoral jurisprudence in Nigeria and that It would appear to be based on extra legal considerations and therefore requires a desired reversal by the supreme Court to prevent the precipitation of a major uprising and anarchy in Imo capable of overwhelming security and stability in the entire South East


The group while making a case about the Supreme Court powers to review or reverse its earlier decision had also stated that, "While delivering the lead judgment in Adegoke Motors Ltd. v. Adesanya (1989] 13 NWLR (Pt.109) 250 at page 275A, Justice Chukwudifo Oputa, also known as the ‘Socrates’ of  the Supreme Court considered the powers of the Supreme Court (as the final Court in the land) to review its earlier decisions and said inter alia:

"We are final not because we are infallible; rather we are infallible because we are final. Justices of this Court are human-beings, capable of erring. It will certainly be short sighted arrogance not to accept this obvious truth. It is also true that this Court can do inestimable good through its wise decisions. Similarly, the Court can do incalculable harm through its mistakes. When therefore it appears to learned counsel that any decision of this Court has been given per incuriam, such counsel should have the boldness and courage to ask that such a decision be over-ruled"

“This Court has the power to over-rule itself (and has done so in the past) for it gladly accepts that it is far better to admit an error than to persevere in error”, the Eminent Leaders quoted


The group in conclusion charged the people of Imo and the entire South East to remain calm and be hopeful as they are quite optimistic that the Supreme Court will do justice to the matter during its epochal review on Tuesday


Signed:

Dr Olusegun Awe Obe, FCAI

Spokesperson, Eminent Leaders'Group initiated by the 'Third Force' Movement, Nigeria

The Supreme Court will set this country ablaze with their kangaroo judgements.

I Don't know How it will happen, But I See Ihedioha as Governor

Righteousness89:
I Don't know How it will happen, But I See Ihedioha as Governor

Since you don't know let me tell you according to

By Jeff Uzor

Apparently a lot of people don't know how courts work including some lawyers. Let me break it down once more.

When you file a motion in court, the trial don't happen right away. There are procedures the motion goes through before it can be heard. It is the same with the apex court. Before the motion for review filed by Ihedioha counsel can move forward, it will first be evaluated on its merits (that means looked over to determine if the apex court can move forward with it or not).

Assuming after the evaluation on Tuesday, it is determined that the motion for review should go on, then the Supreme Court will conduct a review based on prayers been sought.

With all the above being said, I can tell you with a degree of certainty that the motion for review as filed by his counsel shall be dismissed on Tuesday for lack of merit. Whats the reason?

Well, the motion has a lot of flaws. The first flaw , it is almost impossible to get a unanimous judgement reviewed. The only way is if the prayer being sought is clerical in nature. Second litigation ends at the supreme court therefore when asking for a review, certain threshold must be met. The law is made that way so there can be an end to litigation. The motion as filed by Ihedioha counsel if adopted shall create a judicial disaster. Third one of the prayers being sought in the motion as filed is the same INEC ignored when they declared him the duly elected candidate, that is the two third spread. Asking the court to nullify a judgement on a fact you first benefitted creates estoppel in law.

In summary, the chances of his review moving forward after Tuesday is ZERO. Ultimately INEC and his COUNSEL cost him the election.

Who is Jeff Uzor dinma?

Imo has left the 419 days and on the pedestal of good governance...

kahal29:


Since you don't know let me tell you according to

By Jeff Uzor

Apparently a lot of people don't know how courts work including some lawyers. Let me break it down once more.

When you file a motion in court, the trial don't happen right away. There are procedures the motion goes through before it can be heard. It is the same with the apex court. Before the motion for review filed by Ihedioha counsel can move forward, it will first be evaluated on its merits (that means looked over to determine if the apex court can move forward with it or not).

Assuming after the evaluation on Tuesday, it is determined that the motion for review should go on, then the Supreme Court will conduct a review based on prayers been sought.

With all the above being said, I can tell you with a degree of certainty that the motion for review as filed by his counsel shall be dismissed on Tuesday for lack of merit. Whats the reason?

Well, the motion has a lot of flaws. The first flaw , it is almost impossible to get a unanimous judgement reviewed. The only way is if the prayer being sought is clerical in nature. Second litigation ends at the supreme court therefore when asking for a review, certain threshold must be met. The law is made that way so there can be an end to litigation. The motion as filed by Ihedioha counsel if adopted shall create a judicial disaster. Third one of the prayers being sought in the motion as filed is the same INEC ignored when they declared him the duly elected candidate, that is the two third spread. Asking the court to nullify a judgement on a fact you first benefitted creates estoppel in law.

In summary, the chances of his review moving forward after Tuesday is ZERO. Ultimately INEC and his COUNSEL cost him the election.