Supreme Court affirms election of Hon. Chike Okafor as Imo Rep

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the appeal filed against Hon. Chike Okafor challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal which returned the lawmakers as the authentic member representing  Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State.

The Appellant, Mrs Uzoma Mary-Ann, through her Counsel, Mr Mohammed Ndariani Mohammed had on the 16th August 2019 filed a notice of appeal challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja division which set aside the judgement of the FCT High Court Kubwa presided over by Justice Kawo Bello.

ALSO READ: Tribunal dismisses three petitions, affirms Ihedioha’s election as Imo governor

Both him and the Counsel to the 3rd, the Minister for State Education and former member of the House, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and Prof. Hakeem Olaniyan vigorously argued the appeal, pleading with the Supreme Court Justices to set aside the judgement of Court of Appeal judgment, which restored Okafor’s mandate.

But Mr Solomon Umoh, SAN counsel to Hon. Chike Okafor and Mr Babatunde Kwame Ogala, counsel to the 2nd respondent, APC raised preliminary objections to the competence of the appeal.

The Supreme Court 5-man panel are Justice Olabode Rhode Vivour; Justice Chima Centus Nweze; Justice Aminu Sanusi; Justice Ejembi Eko; Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, unanimously upheld the objections and dismissed the appeal for being incompetent.