Appeal Court Reserves Judgment in Suit Seeking Dickson’s Disqualification

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reserved
its judgment in the appeal filed against the ruling of Justice Jane
Inyang of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State.

Justice Inyang had November 11, 2020 struck out the originating
summons brought by Mr Owoupele Eneoriekumoh, a kinsman of the
former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson, against the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and Dickson as first, second and third
respondents in a pre-election matter for want of jurisdiction.

Owoupele had prayed the trial court to disqualify Dickson, who
is now the senator representing Bayelsa West in the National
Assembly, on the basis that he had submitted false and forged
information contained in his INEC form EC9.

At the hearing of the appeal on January 5, 2021, counsel for the
appellant, Ebikebuna Aluzu, urged the court to allow the appeal by
reversing the ruling of the trial court and further discountenance
with the second and third respondents’ briefs of arguments having
been filed out of time.

Counsel for the second respondent, Nicholas Obhise, and also
holding the brief of F. N. Nwosu, counsel for the third respondent
(Dickson) urged the appellate court to uphold the decision of the
trial court and dismiss the appeal.

But the court reserved its judgment for a later date to be
communicated to the parties.

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has reserved
its judgment in the appeal filed against the ruling of Justice Jane
Inyang of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State.

Justice Inyang had November 11, 2020 struck out the originating
summons brought by Mr Owoupele Eneoriekumoh, a kinsman of the
former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Seriake Dickson, against the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) and Dickson as first, second and third
respondents in a pre-election matter for want of jurisdiction.

Owoupele had prayed the trial court to disqualify Dickson, who
is now the senator representing Bayelsa West in the National
Assembly, on the basis that he had submitted false and forged
information contained in his INEC form EC9.

At the hearing of the appeal on January 5, 2021, counsel for the
appellant, Ebikebuna Aluzu, urged the court to allow the appeal by
reversing the ruling of the trial court and further discountenance
with the second and third respondents’ briefs of arguments having
been filed out of time.

Counsel for the second respondent, Nicholas Obhise, and also
holding the brief of F. N. Nwosu, counsel for the third respondent
(Dickson) urged the appellate court to uphold the decision of the
trial court and dismiss the appeal.

But the court reserved its judgment for a later date to be
communicated to the parties.