₦airaland Forum

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 7 for hearing of the suit seeking the removal of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his defection.

In the application, the PDP asked the court to declare the impeached Deputy Governor Mahdi Aliyu Gusau as the duly elected governor of Zamfara State.

PDP is also asking the court to sack about 37 members of the National Assembly and the State Assembly who defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo on Thursday fixed the suit following an application for joinder and the submissions of lawyers in the matter.

The lawyers to the defendants led by Mike Ozekhome (SAN) also sought for an extension of time to file their responses to the matter.

In the originating summons by its lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), PDP is seeking a declaration that sequel to the Supreme Court judgement of 2019 in APC and another Senator Kabiru Marafa and 179 others, only members of the PDP, including Matawalle then, were entitled to hold the office of the governor and deputy governor or member of the Zamfara State House of Assembly “or occupy any position or seat as a senator or member of the House of Representatives of the Nigerian National Assembly for the purpose of representing any senatorial district or electoral constituency in Zamfara State for the period beginning from May 29, 2019 and ending May 28, 2023.”

Nonpartisan1:
APC should petition NJC about this Akwa Ibom PDP Judge.

They should also apply that the case be reassigned to another judge, as Justice Ekwo has not hidden his hatred for APC in favour of his pary the PDP.

LibertyRep:
Mike Ozekhome is the lawyer to the defendant.
I see.

fergie001:
Ozekhome SAN has represented Matawalle all through his cases. He is so to speak, a personal attorney to the Zamfara Gov.

Ukala SAN is a personal lawyer to the Wike family right from when Nyesom was an UG. Wike served in his chambers after law school and he is handling the Ebonyi, Cross-River & Zamfara defection cases.

It will be interesting.

fergie001:
Ozekhome SAN has represented Matawalle all through his cases. He is so to speak, a personal attorney to the Zamfara Gov.

Ukala SAN is a personal lawyer to the Wike family right from when Nyesom was an UG. Wike served in his chambers after law school and he is handling the Ebonyi, Cross-River & Zamfara defection cases.

It will be interesting.

vicdom:
I think there was division in zamfara state PDP as the time of their defection, thus, these ones might not fly.

Kwanza:
https://dailytrust.com/defection-pdp-moves-to-replace-matawalle-with-former-deputy
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

fergie001:
The Supreme Court have stated in Abegunde v Ondo House of Assembly that fractionalization or division of a Party at any of its chapters (Ward, LG, State, Zonal) other than the National Chapter of the Party is not a prerequisite for defection.

Only a division at the National Chapter of the Party can be a criteria for defection.

Eg: nPDP, R-APC, etc.

Indispensable85:
Justice iyang ekwo is cashing out seriously.
Hahahahahahahaha.......is he the only judge in the FCT?

fergie001:
Himself and Justice Taiwo Taiwo are the strongest they have at the Abuja Division.

Saturday is Justice Ekwo's 58th birthday celebration.....I wish him long life & prosperity.

Lipscomb:
Buhari will destroy APC because of his I don't care attitude. Pdp has bought judiciary.

Indispensable85:
Did you notice the PDP brought it before justice iyang ekwo again? Lol.....

Indispensable85:
Hahahahahahahaha.....
My eyes are fixed on the appeal of Dave Umahi. I want to hear from the judges at the appeal court. At least we have three people there. Let's see how each of them will view the judgement from iyang ekwo, the billionaire judge. Lol..

fergie001:
The Supreme Court stated in Abegunde v Ondo House of Assembly (2015) that fractionalization or division of a Political Party at any of its chapters (Ward, LG, State, Zonal) other than the National body of the Party is not a prerequisite for defection.

Only a division at the National Chapter of the Party can be a criteria for defection.i.e. to all persons not covered by Section 308.

Eg: nPDP, R-APC, etc.

So, the truth is that the National Assembly & SHA lawmakers are on borrowed time.

vicdom:
Wow!! Nawa ooo... These lawmakers knew all those stuff but still went ahead to move. Well, the might linger till next year shaa.. Before Appeal court will rule, then SC, 2023 election would have come by then.

fergie001:
This is a reckless allegation.

Ekwo's cases are cases you have to look at critically. Umahi has apologised about what he said to him and I think we should be circumspect. Calling them names denigrates the institution.

Ekwo was in Abuja when he disqualified Degi in Bayelsa, the rest is history.

Ekwo was in Abuja when he disqualified Frank Ibezim, the same Appeal Court concurred, the Supreme Court upturned.

Ekwo was in Abuja when he disqualified Uche Nwosu, the Appeal Court concurred, the Supreme Court concurred.

Ekwo only recently disqualified Andy Uba, the Appeal Court has concurred, we are waiting for the Supreme Court.

Does he share the billions with Judges in the Appeal and Supreme Courts?

It is a judgement that I do not reckon with but I don't know the argument(s) canvassed by parties and believe the matter is in good hands going upwards.

Justice Haruna Tsammani or Justice Stephen Adah will chair the Appeal Panel. Let us wait.

fergie001:
I have corrected you before that no Party takes a case to a Judge.

The case file is assigned by the President of the FHC....Why not ask Justice Tsoho why he likes to assign cases to Ekwo.

The President before Tsoho also hands over case files to Ekwo, why not ask them?

I have told you this is something you are not suppose to say. So, even Supreme Court Judges like Rhodes-Vivour, Ariwoola, Adamu Augie who have concurred with his earlier judgements are part of the billionaire contract?

This comment of yours no balance abeg.