Ebonyi Governor Umahi, Deputy appeal judgement, engages 18 SAN; INEC Awaits certified true copy

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, on Wednesday, engaged the services of 18 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to represent them in an appeal against the judgement of the Federal High Court.

Umahi disclosed this during a solidarity rally held in Abakaliki, the state capital, by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was awaiting the certified true copy of the court judgement before effecting the order.

Reactions have trailed comments made by him on Wednesday accusing lawyers of the Peoples Democratic Party of misleading Justice Inyang Ekwo, the judge to issue the court ruling ordering his removal as governor. and denied ever criticizing the Judge.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Wednesday, rose with indignation against Umahi for making unpleasant comments about a judge of the Federal High Court.

Umahi denied criticizing the Judge “I am using the opportunity to let Nigerians know that nobody castigated the judge and we will not do such.”

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He added, “We have done three things: we have done the appeal at Enugu and when I said that we have two judgements, I said that the judgement in Ebonyi State, which has equal powers with that of Abuja, will be obeyed.

“We will appeal the judgement of Abuja High court; we did not say we will disobey the court, otherwise, we will not appeal the judgement.”

The chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum said the appeal was already before the appeal court in Enugu. “We are also before the appeal court in Abuja and we have also filed a stay of execution,” he added.

Umahi noted that with the appeal already filled, he still remained the governor while Igwe remained the deputy governor of the state.

“Yesterday, I made it very clear that the Supreme Court has said that for any defection in the legislative houses, the presiding officer, who is the Speaker or the Senate President, has the duty and not the court to declare the seat vacant,” he added.

Umahi told the people, “There is nothing to be afraid of, go about your businesses very peacefully and let me assure the NBA chairman that he is a perfect gentleman and that we will never insult the judiciary.

“We have confidence in the judiciary and I know they will do the right thing we have engaged eight SANs to proceed to Abuja, we have also engaged 10 SANs to proceed to Enugu. Do not be angry about anything, it is for our promotion.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Tuesday ordered Umahi, his deputy, and 16 state lawmakers to vacate their offices on account of their defection from PDP to APC. Ekwo held that their continued stay in office after defecting was illegal, null and void because the votes, which brought them into office, belonged to PDP that they had dumped for APC.