Supreme Court sacks Edo lawmaker, orders refund of salaries

The Supreme Court, on Friday, sacked Hon. Sunday Aghedo of the
All Progressive Congress, APC, from the Edo State House of
Assembly.

Aghedo who hitherto represented Ovia South West constituency,
was ordered by the apex court to within 90 days, refund all
salaries and allowances he collected from Edo State House of
Assembly from May 2015, till date.

In an unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of Justices of the
apex court, declared Mr. Godwin Adenomo also of the APC, as the
bonafide winner of the legislative election in Ovia South- West
constituency of Edo State House of Assembly, held on April 11,
2015.

The Supreme Court panel affirmed the judgment of the Court of
Appeal in Benin which had earlier declared that Mr. Adenomo was the
authentic winner of the primary election APC conducted for the
costitutency on December 2, 2014.

Delivering the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Dantijo Mohammed
ordered the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly to immediately
swear in Mr. Adenomo as member of the Assembly representing Ovia
South West constituency.

The court further awarded N300, 000 cost against the appelant,
Hon. Aghedo, who had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal
Benin delivered by Justice Moore Asiemo Adumein.

Both the Supreme and aappellate court had noted that the pre-
election matter arose from a primary election in which Mr. Adenomo
scored the highest votes cast, having secured 152 votes as against
140 that was scored by the appellant.

However, instead of submitting Adenomo’s name, the appellant’s
name was forwarded as the party’s candidate for the election, with
a three man appeal panel that was set up by the party to look into
his complaint, upholding the decision of the party.

Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the decision of the party’s appeal
panel, Adenomo dragged APC and the primary election Committee to
court, accusing them of imposing the appellant on the
constituency.

He accused the party of denying him the ticket despite the fact
that he won the primary election.

Based on his suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Benin
ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary for the position.

Adenomo however rejected the ruling and took the matter before
the appellate court.

Similarly, Aghedo who was also not satisfied with the lower
court’s verdict, also filed a cross-appeal to vacate the order
setting aside the decision of the party’s appeal panel.

Consequently, the appellate court, in its verdict, nullified the
high court decision and declared Adenomo winner of the primary
election.

Both Aghedo and APC however took the case before the Supreme
Court where they contended that a political party reserved the
right to sponsor a candidate of its choice at any election, an
argument that did not persuade the apex court panel on Friday.

The Supreme Court, on Friday, sacked Hon. Sunday Aghedo of the
All Progressive Congress, APC, from the Edo State House of
Assembly.

Aghedo who hitherto represented Ovia South West constituency,
was ordered by the apex court to within 90 days, refund all
salaries and allowances he collected from Edo State House of
Assembly from May 2015, till date.

In an unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of Justices of the
apex court, declared Mr. Godwin Adenomo also of the APC, as the
bonafide winner of the legislative election in Ovia South- West
constituency of Edo State House of Assembly, held on April 11,
2015.

The Supreme Court panel affirmed the judgment of the Court of
Appeal in Benin which had earlier declared that Mr. Adenomo was the
authentic winner of the primary election APC conducted for the
costitutency on December 2, 2014.

Delivering the lead judgment on Friday, Justice Dantijo Mohammed
ordered the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly to immediately
swear in Mr. Adenomo as member of the Assembly representing Ovia
South West constituency.

The court further awarded N300, 000 cost against the appelant,
Hon. Aghedo, who had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal
Benin delivered by Justice Moore Asiemo Adumein.

Both the Supreme and aappellate court had noted that the pre-
election matter arose from a primary election in which Mr. Adenomo
scored the highest votes cast, having secured 152 votes as against
140 that was scored by the appellant.

However, instead of submitting Adenomo’s name, the appellant’s
name was forwarded as the party’s candidate for the election, with
a three man appeal panel that was set up by the party to look into
his complaint, upholding the decision of the party.

Meanwhile, dissatisfied with the decision of the party’s appeal
panel, Adenomo dragged APC and the primary election Committee to
court, accusing them of imposing the appellant on the
constituency.

He accused the party of denying him the ticket despite the fact
that he won the primary election.

Based on his suit, the Federal High Court sitting in Benin
ordered the APC to conduct a fresh primary for the position.

Adenomo however rejected the ruling and took the matter before
the appellate court.

Similarly, Aghedo who was also not satisfied with the lower
court’s verdict, also filed a cross-appeal to vacate the order
setting aside the decision of the party’s appeal panel.

Consequently, the appellate court, in its verdict, nullified the
high court decision and declared Adenomo winner of the primary
election.

Both Aghedo and APC however took the case before the Supreme
Court where they contended that a political party reserved the
right to sponsor a candidate of its choice at any election, an
argument that did not persuade the apex court panel on Friday.