Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has annulled the election of Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Dr. Samson Oga.
The court also ordered Ikpeazu to vacate office immediately
The order was based on the allegation that Ikpeazu submitted false information to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the party’s governorship primary in December 2014.
In his ruling, Justice Okon Abang ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately issue a certificate of return to the complainant, Uche Ogah.
Meanwhile Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has asked the people of the state not to panic over the judgment of the Federal High Court Abuja, delivered today in favour of Mr. Uche Oga in the case of alleged falsification of tax receipts.
Governor Ikpeazu, who said that he had faith in the judiciary and rule of law, added that he will appeal the ruling as he had instructed his lawyers to immediately file an appeal against the said judgment.
The Governor noted that as an appointee of Abia State Government from 2011 to 2014, when he served as the General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme, ASPIMSS, and first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, Aba and environs, before his resignation in October 2014 to contest the governorship election, his taxes were deducted at source, and when he had need of his tax clearance in 2014, he applied to the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, and was duly issued with his tax receipts for the period in question.
He maintained that he remains the Governor of the state according to law and will await the final determination of the matter by the appellate courts.
No comments:
Post a Comment