Rivers APC crisis: Appeal Court stays proceedings in appeal against Aguma’s appointment

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday, stayed proceedings in the appeal brought before it by the former Rivers State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abott Ogbobula.

The former Caretaker Committee Chairman is challenging the judgment of the High Court of Rivers State which affirmed Igo Aguma’s appointment as the APC’s Acting Chairman in Rivers State.

The Court had, on July 8 granted the request by Ogbobula praying the court to depart from its rule to abridge the time within which to compile a record of appeal and to deem the record has been properly filed.

Etiaba had, in his objection submitted that the record was compiled before the notice of appeal was served, against the rule of the court which requires that the respondent must be served before records are compiled.

But, counsel to the appellant, Tuduru Ede (SAN), argued that by Order 2, Rule 1 of the court, the order of substituted service granted by the court covered the issue of service raised by Etiaba.

He said by Order 8 Rule 6 and 9 of the Rules of the court, the party that feels dissatisfied with a record of appeal has the rights to transmit additional record and urged the court to discountenance Etiaba’s objection, a position, the court agreed with and held that Etiaba’s ground of objection was misconceived.

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Dissatisfied, Etiaba filed an appeal challenging the ruling of the appellate court at the Supreme Court.

When the matter came up yesterday, Tuduru Ede (SAN), counsel to Ogbobula told the court that he was served with three processes from the first and the third respondents in the appeal.

Aguma, through his counsel, said one of his affidavits filed before the court was a reply to the appellant’s response to his preliminary objection, while the second one was a verifying affidavit of facts with respect to the notice of appeal and application for stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court.

According to Etiaba, “By that affidavit filed on July 15, 2020, we have brought to the notice of the court that we have an appeal for a stay of proceedings at the apex court.”

Tuduru Ede, in his submissions, urged the court to strike out the affidavits for being incompetent, adding that the Court of Appeal rules do no allow filling of verifying affidavit of facts.

“The affidavit is incompetent because it is strange under the rule of the court and I urge earnestly that it should be struck out,” Ede submitted.

But the three-member panel of Justices of the appellate court headed by Justice Steven Adah in its ruling held that the court cannot continue in the hearing of the matter, as the first respondent has proved to the court that an appeal has been entered.

“An affidavit is evidence of proof. The affidavit is showing that an appeal is before the Supreme Court. The notice of appeal and other processes have been brought to our notice in respect of the ruling of the court.

“This court cannot continue to go on with this matter since we don’t know the decision of the Supreme Court on the Appeal,” Justice Ada said.

The court then made an order adjourning the hearing of the appeal sine-die (indefinitely), pending the hearing and determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court.

The court also ordered the stay of execution of the judgment of the lower trial court, an order, Etiaba said will be challenged at the Supreme Court as there were declarative reliefs granted by the trial court.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE