Supreme Court sets March 10 for Anyanwu’s appeal against sack

The Supreme Court has adjourned till March 10 the hearing of the appeal filed by the embattled National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, fixed the date on Tuesday while delivering a ruling on the motion for accelerated hearing brought by Anyanwu.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu had last December upheld a High Court decision that sacked Samuel Anyanwu as the National Secretary of the PDP.

The appellate court subsequently upheld Chief Ude Okoye as the substantive National Secretary of the main opposition party.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Ridwan Abdullahi, the Court of Appeal held that Anyanwu‘s appeal was incompetent and lacking in merit.

According to the appellate court, the appellant violated the PDP’s constitution by laying claim to the National Secretary position, having contested and emerged as the PDP candidate in the 2024 governorship election in Imo State.

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Dissatisfied, Anyanwu last month approached the apex court to set aside the judgment of the two lower courts and recognize him as the authentic National Secretary of the PDP.

He also filed a motion for accelerated hearing as well as an abridgement of time on the grounds of the crucial role of the office of National Secretary.

Delivering a ruling on the motion on Tuesday, the apex court granted the application and ordered the service of court processes on the respondent, Mr Aniagu Emmanuel, who must file his reply brief within three days of service.

Anyanwu, on the other hand, was given two days to reply on points of law.

The apex court subsequently fixed March 10 for the hearing.

Meanwhile, the motion for a stay of execution of the judgment of the appellate court was not heard by the apex court.