Judgement Review: Supreme Court Turns Down APC’s Request on Bayelsa Election

The Supreme Court has thrown out the applications by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and two others for a review of February 13, 2020 judgment in the Bayelsa State governorship dispute.

The application filed and argued for the applicants by Afe Babalola (SAN) and Wole Onanipekun (SAN) was dismissed by a seven-member panel of the court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta. The apex court held that the applications lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of the court process.

In the lead ruling, Justice Amina Augie said the application was an attempt to make the court violate its rules and the provision of the Constitution which makes it the final court of the land.

READ: Bayelsa: Supreme Court’s Verdict Exposed Our Faulty Democratic Process – Shina Peller

Justice Augie said if the applications is granted, it has the capacity of belittling the dignity and status of the court and open a floodgate for such requests in the future.

While expressing regret that legal luminaries could be involved in the filing of such applications, Justice Augie awarded N10milion cost for each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents (the PDP, its governorship and deputy governorship in the last election) – Sen. Duoye Diri and. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo – to be paid personally by the applicant’s lawyers.

READ: Bayelsa: ‘It’s Not Even About Winning Again’, Davido Reacts to Supreme Court Judgement

Afe Babalola (SAN) represented the 1st and 2nd applicants (Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo), while Wole Olanipekun (SAN) represented the APC.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *