Seriake Dickson Losses Interlocutory Pre-Election Appeal At Supreme Court

— SC Says Suit Against Dickson Not Statute Barred

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, dismissed the two appeals filed by
the former Governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson and PDP
against Owoupele Eneoriekumoh.

The appeals were in respect of a pre-election suit seeking to
disqualify the former Governor of Bayelsa State from contesting the
Senatorial Election.

Delivering the judgment in Appeal No SC/CV/54/2021 and
SC/CV/55/202, the Supreme Court affirmed that the judgment of the
Court of Appeal that the pre-election matter against Dickson is
competent.

Nairalaw recalls that Owoupele Eneoriekumoh, a
kinsman of former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, had
petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, over alleged
failure to compile and transmit records of proceedings in suit
number FHC/YNG/CS/72/2020 within time.

Owoupele, who is the plaintiff in the above-mentioned suit, had
sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples
Democratic Party, and Dickson as first, second and third
respondents over alleged false information contained in the INEC
form EC9 of Seriake Dickson, the candidate of PDP for the Bayelsa
West senatorial election.

Justice Jane Inyang in her ruling on November 11, 2020,
dismissed the suit for being filed out of time as time starts to
count from the date of the submission of INEC Form EC9.

However, the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, had on
January 7, 2021 ruled that the disqualification suit against
Dickson was not statute-barred and should be given an accelerated
hearing by the Federal High Court, where the matter was first
initiated.

The three-man panel presided over by Justice U.
Onyemenam, disagreed with the Federal High Court’s
decision to dismiss the matter, saying the judgement of the lower
court was wrong.

The lawyers to the 1st Respondent, P.  D. Pius, Esq and E.
A. Aluzu had sought for the disqualification of Dickson before the
Federal High Court.

— SC Says Suit Against Dickson Not Statute Barred

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, dismissed the two appeals filed by
the former Governor of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson and PDP
against Owoupele Eneoriekumoh.

The appeals were in respect of a pre-election suit seeking to
disqualify the former Governor of Bayelsa State from contesting the
Senatorial Election.

Delivering the judgment in Appeal No SC/CV/54/2021 and
SC/CV/55/202, the Supreme Court affirmed that the judgment of the
Court of Appeal that the pre-election matter against Dickson is
competent.

Nairalaw recalls that Owoupele Eneoriekumoh, a
kinsman of former Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson, had
petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, over alleged
failure to compile and transmit records of proceedings in suit
number FHC/YNG/CS/72/2020 within time.

Owoupele, who is the plaintiff in the above-mentioned suit, had
sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples
Democratic Party, and Dickson as first, second and third
respondents over alleged false information contained in the INEC
form EC9 of Seriake Dickson, the candidate of PDP for the Bayelsa
West senatorial election.

Justice Jane Inyang in her ruling on November 11, 2020,
dismissed the suit for being filed out of time as time starts to
count from the date of the submission of INEC Form EC9.

However, the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, had on
January 7, 2021 ruled that the disqualification suit against
Dickson was not statute-barred and should be given an accelerated
hearing by the Federal High Court, where the matter was first
initiated.

The three-man panel presided over by Justice U.
Onyemenam, disagreed with the Federal High Court’s
decision to dismiss the matter, saying the judgement of the lower
court was wrong.

The lawyers to the 1st Respondent, P.  D. Pius, Esq and E.
A. Aluzu had sought for the disqualification of Dickson before the
Federal High Court.