The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the Benue State governorship candidate of the All progressives congress APC, in the 2019 election, Emmanuel Jime, against the victory of Governor Samuel Ortom of the People’s democratic party’s PDP.
The five man panel presided over by Justice A.O Belgore reserved judgement to a date to be communicated to the parties after listening to arguments from Jime ‘s lead counsel, Yussuf Ali, SAN and responses from Sebastine T. Hon, SAN, counsel to Governor Ortom, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, counsel to PDP and Chief Offiong Offing, SAN, counsel to INEC.
The appeal court had earlier dismissed the interlocutory appeal filed by the petitioner Emmanuel Jime and the All Progressives Congress, APC, against the ruling of Benue State State governorship election petition tribunal, which struck out the additional witness statement on oath of their star witness, Joe Abaagu.
The Chairman of the five-member panel, Justice A.O Belgore dismissed the interlocutory appeal following the oral application by lead counsel to Jime and APC, Yusuf Alli.
Counsel to the respondents, Offiong Offiong(INEC) Sebastine Hon, (Governor Ortom), Chris Uche(PDP) did not oppose the application, but however urged the court to dismiss it according to Rule 11, of the rules of the Court of Appeal.
Consequently, Justice Belgore dismissed the interlocutory appeal without awarding any cost.
