Appeal Court dismisses petition against Gov. Ugwuanyi

The Court of Appeal in Enugu on Monday dismissed the appeal challenging the election of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the April 11 election, Okey Ezea, filed the appeal against the judgement of the governorship election petition tribunal, which upheld Ugwuanyi’s election.

Justice J. H. Sanki dismissed the appeal with N100,000 as costs in favour of the respondent after Ezea’s counsel had sought for the withdrawal of his appeal on Monday.

At the Monday sitting, the counsel to the appellant, Cyril Obike, who applied for the withdrawal of the matter, told the court that his client was no longer interested in pursuing the matter.

Obike also said the respondent was aware of his client’s decision to withdraw the case, adding that it would be out of place to ask for any costs.

The counsel to the respondent, Paul Onyia, also told the court that the notice for withdrawal was served on them last Saturday.

Pnyia said his client had already prepared to argue the matter on appeal before he was served.

“But we cannot oppose their application,” Onyia said.

Onyia, however, asked for N1 million costs from the appellant for the withdrawal after they had filed their processes.