From Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia and Okey Sampson, Aba

The Supreme Court has said it will, on Monday, May 22, 2017, hear the tax forgery suit against Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Sir Friday Nwosu.

Nwosu, who contested the December 8, 2014 PDP governorship primaries in the state, had alleged that Ikpeazu submitted false information and tax documents to his party and asked the court to disqualify him.

He prayed the court to declare him (Nwosu) the lawful PDP candidate in the 2015 governorship election.

When the case, with suit number SC/1046/2016, came up for mention last March 29,  Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN, who appeared as PDP’s lawyer, said the party was not served with the relevant court processes and applied for adjournment.

The court adjourned the matter till June 6, 2017, for hearing.

But, Nwosu and the PDP also filed separate motions urging the court to bring up the matter for hearing before   May 12, 2017, but the Supreme Court fixed the case for hearing Monday.

 Daily Sun also gathered  that the PDP also filed a notice,  insisting that neither Dr. Paul Ananaba nor Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), was its lawyer.

 The party had earlier filed a Notice of Intention to withdraw from the case, not to defend any of the parties in the suit and urged the court to serve justice.

The apex court on Friday, awarded victory to Dr. Ikpeazu on the suit between him and another PDP chieftain, Dr Uche Ogah, who contested the governorship position with the governor.

Meanwhile, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo has congratulated Ikpeazu  on his recent victory at the Supreme Court.

This is even as the APC chieftain has advised the governor not to, any longer dance to the music being played for him by his predecessor in office, Chief T.A Orji.

Addressing select newsmen at his Nkata Ibeku country home yesterday where he congratulated Ikpeazu over his victory, Apugo said, when the governor paid him a courtesy visit in his house last Thursday that he told him he was going to win the case.

“I told him that he will win, not based on any sentiments but based on facts on ground and behold, the following day, the governor won the case and he should see this victory as that for all Abians.

“I use this opportunity to congratulate the governor for his victory at the court, though it was internal party matter, but, it is victory, so, I congratulate him for that.”

ABIA GUBER/sd

Abia guber tussle: Supreme Court  hears Ikpeazu, Nwosu’s suit on May 22

From Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia and OKEY SAMPSON, Aba

The Supreme Court in Abuja has said it will, on  May 22, still hear the tax forgery suit filed against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State, Sir Friday Nwosu.

Nwosu who contested the December 8, 2014 PDP governorship primaries in the state, had alleged that Ikpeazu submitted false information and tax documents to his party and asked the court to disqualify him.

He prayed the court to declare him (Nwosu) the lawful PDP candidate in the 2015 governorship election.

When the case, SC/1046/ 2016, came up for mention on March 29, 2017, Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN, who appeared as PDP’s lawyer, said the party was not served with the relevant court processes and applied for adjournment.

The court adjourned the matter to June 6, 2017, for hearing.

But, Nwosu and the PDP also filed separate motions urging the court to bring up the matter for hearing before   May 12, 2017, but the Supreme Court fixed the case for hearing on May 22, 2017.

 Daily Sun also learnt  that the PDP also filed a notice insisting that neither Dr. Paul Ananaba nor Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), was its lawyer.

 The party had also filed a notice of intention to withdraw from the case, not to defend any of the parties in the suit and urged the court to serve justice The apex court, on Friday, May 12, 2017,  awarded victory to Dr. Ikpeazu on the suit between him and another PDP chieftain, Dr Uche Ogah, who contested the governorship position with the governor.

Meanwhile, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo has congratulated Goverenor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State over his recent victory at the Supreme Court. This is even as the APC chieftain has advised the governor not to, any longer dance to the music being played for him by his predecessor in office, Chief T.A Orji.

Addressing select newsmen at his Nkata Ibeku country home yesterday where he congratulated Ikpeazu over his victory, Apugo said, when the governor paid him a courtesy visit in his house last Thursday that he told him he was going to win the case.

“I told him that he will win, not based on any sentiments but based on facts on ground and behold, the following day, the governor won the case and he should see this victory as that for all Abians.

“I use this opportunity to congratulate the governor for his victory at the court, though it was internal party matter, but, it is victory, so, I congratulate him for that.”