Abia: Ikpeazu writes NJC, CJN over Justice Abang’s judgment

Says I won’t be distracted

Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate what he described as “irreparable injustice” meted out on him through the judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

In a letter to CJN and NJC, Governor Ikpeazu said Justice Abang allegedly denying him justice had thrown Abia State into turmoil, adding that there was grave political uncertainty and total breakdown of law and order in the state.

He, therefore, called on the NJC to investigate the judgment.

The petition against Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja  Division of the  Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/71/2016.” signed by one of his lawyers, Mr Emeka Eze read:  “I am one of the legal counsel engaged by Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in the prosecution of the above matter and have his instructions to bring to your attention and that of the esteemed members of the National Judicial Council the irreparable injustice meted to him by Honourable Justice Okon Abang.

“On June 27, 2016, Honourable Justice Okon Abang delivered an oral judgment in the said suit with a pronouncement in court that copies of the judgment will be made available to parties within seven days.

“A few hours after delivery of the judgment, we sent formal requests for the written copies of the judgments, filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the orders of the court. The filed copies of the notice of appeal and applications for stay of execution were duly served on all parties, including INEC, on the same day.

“On receipt of our notice of appeal and application to stay execution of the orders of the court, Justice Abang allegedly without our knowledge enrolled a seven paged order signed by him and delivered same to the plaintiff to enable him to enforce the orders contained in his enrolled judgment, thereby truncating the petitioner’s rights to appeal against the judgment.”

Meanwhile, Dr Ikpeazu has said the current political situation in the state is a mere distraction, noting that it will not stop him from his avowed determination to provide the people of the state with the desired democracy dividends .

He was speaking when he received at the Government House, Umuahia, the new state executive of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who paid him a solidarity visit.

The Governor said he would continue to run his administration in the state with a mindset that nothing has happened, and disclosed that work had not stopped for a day since the current political imbroglio in the state started.

The governor charged the party executive to remain steadfast and supportive of his administration to enable him to meet the yearnings of the people, and expressed joy that the executive was still intact, despite the happenings in the state in the last couple of days.