Ubani, a former Chairman,
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, made the call while briefing
newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
ln a bid to resolve the
political impasse in Abia, a Lagos lawyer, Mr Onyekachi Ubani, has called on
the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, and the
Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, to set in motion the
swearing-in of Mr Uche Ogah as governor.
Justice Okon Abang of the
Federal High Court, Abuja had on June 27 sacked the state governor, Dr Okezie
Ikpeazu, for failing to pay his taxes as required by law.
In his judgment, Abang
ordered the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately issue a
certificate of return to Ogah as Governor-elect, a directive which INEC had
complied with.
Ubani noted that the suit
was instituted by Ogah in 2014 after the state’s Peoples Democratic Party
gubernatorial primaries to challenge Ikpeazu’s eligibility.
According to him, election
petitions tribunal’s decisions are different from pre-election matters and a
party does not have to wait until 21 days to file an appeal.
He said:”The order of the
court was that INEC should immediately issue a certificate of return to Ogah
and that he should be sworn-in by the Chief Judge of Abia State.
“So, the order of the court
must be obeyed until it is upheld or reversed by a superior court. Such an
order cannot be arrested by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
“The law today is that Ogah
has been issued with the certificate of return.
“I am, therefore, calling
on the AGF and the I-G to ensure that Ogah is sworn-in since there is no stay
of execution from a superior court or any other order contrary to that effect.”
Ubani said Nigerians must
appreciate INEC for immediately obeying the judgment after the commission was
served with an enrolled order from the court.
“INEC was right for
complying with the judgment of the court. Let us begin to appreciate government
agencies when they comply with orders of court.
“That is the way we can
build a country we are proud of,” he added.
NAN
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