NEWS: Supreme Court dismisses Akeredolu’s appeal against Abraham’s suit
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an
appeal filed by the Ondo State Governor , Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu , against the suit of one of his opponents in the last governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress in the state , Mr .
Olusegun Abraham.
Akeredolu ’ s appeal is in connection with the service on him the court papers filed by
Abraham to challenge his emergence as the
APC ’ s governorship candidate in the September 3 , 2016 election .
The governor had appealed to the Court of
Appeal challenging the order of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja permitting Abraham to serve him (the governor ) through substituted means.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja , on July 2017 ,
dismissed Akeredolu ’ s appeal and affirmed
Justice Dimgba ’ s order .
The governor further appealed to the Supreme Court , which also dismissed his appeal on Friday.
In a unanimous judgment on Friday , a five- man panel of the Supreme Court held that
Akeredolu ’ s appeal lacked merit.
Justice John Okoro prepared the lead judgment , but it was read by Justice Ejembi Eko .
Justice Okoro upheld the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal and awarded N500, 000 cost against Akeredolu , in favour of Abraham.
The judgment of the Supreme Court has paved the way for the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue hearing in Abraham’ s suit which had been adjourned indefinitely due to Akeredolu ’ s successive appeals up to the Supreme Court .
Abraham’ s suit is anchored on his rejection of the outcome of the APC ’ s September 3 , 2016 primary from which Akeredolu emerged as the party ’ s candidate and went on to win the November 26 , 2016 governorship election in the state .
But the governor on Friday described the
judgment of the Supreme Court as a “ non -
issue ” .
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary , Segun Ajiboye , said , “ Ondo State Governor , Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ( SAN) , has assured the people of the state that there is no cause for alarm over the Supreme Court ruling which dismissed the appeal filed by him .
“ What the Supreme court ruled on was
whether the service of the Originating Process on the APC secretariat in Abuja , instead of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu , was right or not.
“ Governor Akeredolu , therefore , wants to state equivocally that there is no cause for alarm over the ruling delivered by the Supreme Court . ”
In a statement by its Director of Media and
Publicity , Ondo State chapter of the APC , Mr. Steve Otaloro , the party said “ We want to urge all members of our party to remain calm and refuse to be confused on the court ’ s verdict, which is a mere permission to begin the hearing of the case itself . ”
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed an
appeal filed by the Ondo State Governor , Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu , against the suit of one of his opponents in the last governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress in the state , Mr .
Olusegun Abraham.
Akeredolu ’ s appeal is in connection with the service on him the court papers filed by
Abraham to challenge his emergence as the
APC ’ s governorship candidate in the September 3 , 2016 election .
The governor had appealed to the Court of
Appeal challenging the order of Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja permitting Abraham to serve him (the governor ) through substituted means.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja , on July 2017 ,
dismissed Akeredolu ’ s appeal and affirmed
Justice Dimgba ’ s order .
The governor further appealed to the Supreme Court , which also dismissed his appeal on Friday.
In a unanimous judgment on Friday , a five- man panel of the Supreme Court held that
Akeredolu ’ s appeal lacked merit.
Justice John Okoro prepared the lead judgment , but it was read by Justice Ejembi Eko .
Justice Okoro upheld the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal and awarded N500, 000 cost against Akeredolu , in favour of Abraham.
The judgment of the Supreme Court has paved the way for the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue hearing in Abraham’ s suit which had been adjourned indefinitely due to Akeredolu ’ s successive appeals up to the Supreme Court .
Abraham’ s suit is anchored on his rejection of the outcome of the APC ’ s September 3 , 2016 primary from which Akeredolu emerged as the party ’ s candidate and went on to win the November 26 , 2016 governorship election in the state .
But the governor on Friday described the
judgment of the Supreme Court as a “ non -
issue ” .
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary , Segun Ajiboye , said , “ Ondo State Governor , Oluwarotimi Akeredolu ( SAN) , has assured the people of the state that there is no cause for alarm over the Supreme Court ruling which dismissed the appeal filed by him .
“ What the Supreme court ruled on was
whether the service of the Originating Process on the APC secretariat in Abuja , instead of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu , was right or not.
“ Governor Akeredolu , therefore , wants to state equivocally that there is no cause for alarm over the ruling delivered by the Supreme Court . ”
In a statement by its Director of Media and
Publicity , Ondo State chapter of the APC , Mr. Steve Otaloro , the party said “ We want to urge all members of our party to remain calm and refuse to be confused on the court ’ s verdict, which is a mere permission to begin the hearing of the case itself . ”
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