Abia CJ’s absence stalls Ogah’s inauguration

It Is An Illegality And Rape Of Democracy, Says Ikpeazu

The absence of the Abia Chief Judge, Justice Theresa Uzoukwu, has stalled the expected inauguration of Samson Ogah as the new governor of the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier on Thursday, issued Ogah a Certificate of Return, thus withdrawing the one it had earlier issued to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

INEC said its action was in compliance with an Abuja Federal High Court judgment ordering Ikpeazu to immediately vacate office.

In his ruling, Justice Okon Abang had on Monday made a consequential order ordering Ikpeazu to vacate office as Abia Governor based on the revelations that he did not pay his tax for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013, as at when due when he was a public officer.

However, the inauguration could not take place because it was learnt that the state chief judge, who was supposed to have performed the function, was nowhere to be found.

Meanwhile, Ikpeazu who obtained an ex parte injunction issued by Justice Chibuzor  Ahuchaogu of the State High Court, Osisioma, restraining the Chief Judge from swearing-in Ogah, who happens to be of the same Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has issued a statement insisting that he remained the governor of the state.

He also appealed to the people of the state to remain calm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogah, who arrived at Umuahia from Abuja at about 5.45 p.m, headed straight to the office of the State Director of the State Security Service (SSS) in Umuahia, where he held a closed-door meeting with the State Director, Korede Kamoju.

The meeting lasted till about 8.10 p.m.

Ogah left the SSS office in a long motorcade but could not be reached by the journalists, who had waited throughout the period of the meeting for his comments on the unfolding political development in the state.

Meanwhile, Ikpeazu has described the prompt issuance of Certificate of Return to Ogah by INEC as ordered by the Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal High Court after the Supreme Court had dealt with the issue of who is the duly elected governor of the state based on the 2015 election as “an illegality and rape of democracy.”

Addressing journalists yesterday morning at Government House, Umuahia, the governor said, “the illegality shall not stand. I will test it in the Appeal and Supreme Courts because I have the right of appeal that cannot be denied me and if denied me, I will resist it.” “Everybody knew I was working for the state government before I contested for the governorship of the state and during this period my taxes were duly deducted at source by the Board of Inland Revenue, which also swore to an affidavit confirming it.

“Let me assure all that Abia State is on track despite this temporary set-back when someone that did not run an election surreptitiously sought to upturn the result, got judgment in his favour and procured a Certificate of Return before details of the judgment were released. The people’s mandate must be sacrosanct and this mandate they gave me is safe even as I am resolute to defend it.”

The governor’s submissions are in agreement with the position of the PDP whose chairman, Chief Johnson Onuigbo, addressed journalists after the party members rose from a meeting during which Onuigbo also stated that, “ our democracy is threatened”.

He said that though such court orders are normal, they cannot be enforced until all the windows of justice are explored by the aggrieved.

According to him: “ Abia is tensed up and not safe, there is rumour of imminent invasion of Government House by the military. But PDP will resist any attempt to undermine the peace in the state. A competent court has given injunction restraining the Chief Judge, or any other judge or judicial officer from swearing in Dr Ogah into office as governor. Ignoring the injunction would be calling for anarchy.”