Facts have emerged on why a Five Member Panel of the Supreme Court adjourned indefinitely hearing on the Appeal filed against the Judgement of the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal had in August 2016 Upturned the Judgement of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja which disqualified Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on grounds of falsification of his tax receipts.
At the sitting of the Court today, Justice Amina Augie a member of the Panel said she is stepping down as a member of the Panel over a Petition written against her by one of the Parties.
PUO REPORTS findings have shown that Justice Amina Augie , who was recently elevated to the Supreme Court (October 2016) from the Appeal Court, was rumored to have been heavily involved in the Otti versus Ikpeazu election petition matter at the Appeal Court . In that matter the Appeal Court on the 31st of December 2015 ruled in favour of Alex Otti but the decision was later upturned by the Supreme Court which ruled that the Appeal Court erred in law and miscarried justice against Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.
Some groups in Abia recently suggested that Justice Augie is from Uturu in Abia State (where Uche Ogah is also from) but married to a northerner. If that is true, it is plausible that she will be an interested party in the matter and hence was right to recluse herself.
Following the voluntary exit of Justice Amina from the matter, proceedings were adjourned sine die to enable her replacement.
