BREAKING: Sacked Ebonyi Governor, Dave Umahi Loses Court Case

Mouthpiece NGR reports that Federal Hight Court has strike Out Dave Umahi’s Motion To Stop Execution Of Judgment Sacking Him As Governor.

The motion filed by sacked Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, seeking a stay of execution of the March 8 judgement, has been dismissed by the Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja on Monday. After Chukwuma Ma-Chukwu Ume, counsel for Umahi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, asked the court to dismiss the motion, and the Peoples Democratic Party’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, did not object, Justice Inyang Ekwo struck it down. 

PDP vs. INEC and three others filed FHC/ABJ/CS/920/21 for a stay of execution.

Following their defection from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, Justice Inyang Ekwo issued an order on March 8 ordering Umahi, his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and 16 legislators to vacate their offices and seats (APC). The judge also ordered INEC to receive the names of the PDP’s candidates to replace them as soon as possible.

On March 10, Governor Umahi and others petitioned the Federal High Court in Abuja for a stay of execution of the court’s judgement ordering them to vacate their positions due to their defection to a different political party.

The applicants also asked the court to stay the execution of its order directing INEC to receive new names in their place or hold a governorship election in accordance with Section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, pending the hearing and determination of the appellants’ appeal, which was filed on March 9. 

Ume also asked for the withdrawal of a stay of execution motion filed on behalf of lawmakers in the case PDP vs. INEC and 20 others (FHC/ABJ/CS/1041).

Ume informed the court that he intended to withdraw the two motions for stay of execution filed on March 9 because an appeal had been filed in the matter with the Court of Appeal.

The application was not opposed by the PDP’s lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala. Justice Ekwo dismissed the case with a brief decision.

The court says David Umahi remains sacked as a governor.