Court of Appeal Declares Kogi East Senatorial Seat Vacant

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has sacked Senator Attai Aidoko, representing Kogi East Senatorial District tin the Nigerian senate. The court, in a judgment by a three-man panel led by Justice Abdu Aboki, reversed its earlier decision of December 14, 2016 on which basis Aidoko assumed office.

The appellate court held that its earlier judgment which nullified ex-Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Isaac Alfa’s election and installed Aidoko was given in error and said that the Kogi East Senatorial seat now remains vacant until the Federal High Court in Abuja determines the true candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the election held on July 24, 2016.

According the Nation, Alfa had challenged the Appeal Court ‘s decision of December 14th 2016 at the Supreme Court, which ordered that the suit over the dispute about the actual candidate of the party be heard on the merit by the trial court.

While the Federal High Court, Abuja was yet to give its verdict on the case before it, Aidoko filed an application at the Appeal Court, seeking an interpretation of the judgement of the Supreme Court and determine the eligible candidate to the  seat.

The judgment of the Court of Appeal Monday was on the application by Aidoko.

Justice Aboki, in the lead judgment, said the judgment of December 14, 2016 was in error, he reversed it and ordered Aidoko to vacate the seat, pending the determination of issue of candidacy at the court of first instance. The court ordered that the sum of N1 millon be paid by Aidoko to Mr Isaac Alfa whom the court held to be the lawfully nominated candidate of the PDP.

Source: LIB