Supreme Court dashes APC’s hope for Bayelsa governorship judgment review

…awards N60m cost APC, Lyon, Degi-Eremienyo’s lawyers

Nigeria’s Apex Court on Wednesday sealed the hope of a review of its judgment sacking the All Progressives Party (APC) governor-elect, David Lyon as Bayelsa governor on the eve of his inauguration by refusing to reverse itself.

The Supreme Court rejected the applications of APC and two others for a review of February 13, 2020 judgment in the Bayelsa State governorship dispute.

Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, leading a seven-member panel, dismissed the two applications filed and argued by Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) and Chief Wole Onanipekun (SAN), describing them as lacking merit and an abuse of court process.

Justice Amina Augie, who read the lead ruling, said the application was an attempt to make the court violate its rules and the provisions of the Constitution which makes it the final court of the land.

“The applications, if granted, has the capacity of belittling the dignity and status of the court and open a floodgate for such request in the future,’’ she said.

Augie, however, expressed regrets that senior lawyers in the country could be involved in the filing of such applications against the ruling of the highest court in the land.

The court awarded N10 million cost for each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents (the PDP, its governorship and deputy governorship in the last election – Sen. Duoye Diri and. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo).

The cost should be paid personally by the applicant’s lawyers.

Persecondnews reports that Olanipekun represented the APC while Babalola represented the 1st and 2nd applicants (Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo).