FEDERAL HIGH COURT FIXES DATE IN SUIT SEEKING SACK OF DAVE UMAHI AND HIS DEPUTY OVER DEFECTION

The Federal High Court in Abuja today fixed March 8 and 14 to deliver judgments in the multiple suits filed by the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), seeking the sack of the incumbent Governor of Ebonyi State, DAVE UMAHI and his Deputy, KELECHI IGWE from office on account of their defection to the All Progressives Congress APC.
Justice INYANG EKWO fixed the dates after counsel in the suits had adopted their briefs of final arguments for and against the suit.
The PDP in an originating summons had primarily urged the court to make a declaration that by defecting from the party on which they were sponsored and elected as Governor and Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State to the APC, a political party that did not win the election, they have resigned or are deemed to have resigned from office.
However, former Attorney General of Imo State, CHUKWUMA-MACHUKWU UME SAN, who is counsel to Governor UMAHI and his Deputy, urged the court to decline jurisdiction and transfer the case to Ebonyi State, arguing that since his client was sworn-in by the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State and not by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, his removal from office can only be pursued through the State House of Assembly and the state High Court.