Angela Mbaocha, Abakaliki
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Monday, explained why Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja, struck out the application for stay of execution, filed by the governor and his deputy following the court judgment of March 8, 2022 sacking the duo from their offices.
Umahi disclosed that they voluntarily withdrew the application for stay of execution, since the matter had been entered at the court of appeal and records of proceedings also transmitted to the appellate court.
He stated this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Francis Nwaze, who further urged the public to disregard wrong interpretations and insinuations from some “mischievous” quarters about the proceedings of the Federal High Court on Monday which struck out the application for stay of execution filed by Umahi and his deputy.
The statement reads, “Governor Umahi and his deputy, Barr. Igwe has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court of March 8, 2022, on their defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) through their team of lawyers led by Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume, SAN did inform the court for a withdrawal of their earlier application for stay of execution.
”The above was because an appeal has been entered at the court of appeal and records of proceedings have been transmitted to the appellate court. On the notice above, Emmanuel Ukala, PDP counsel, did not oppose the application.
“Consequently, Ekwo struck out the application following confirmation that a valid appeal had been entered at the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, challenging the verdict on them and at this point, the Federal High Court, from which the appeals emanated, ceased to have jurisdiction to entertain any matter on those cases” he noted.
