Akunyili floors Ngige at Appeal Court

BY PETRUS OBI, Enugu

The Appeal Court in Enugu yesterday dismissed an appeal by Senator Chris Ngige of the Action Congress Nigeria (ACN) challenging the decision of the court to send the petition of the former information minister and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Prof. Dora Akunyili to the lower tribunal for re-trial.

The appellate court had last year upturned the ruling of the trial tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State, which struck out Akunyili’s petition challenging the election of Ngige as senator representing Anambra North District on technical grounds.

Dissatisfied by the ruling on grounds that sending the petition for re-trial was a violation of the provisions of Electoral Act, which gave a time limit for such petition, Ngige approached the court to upturn itself.

Ruling on the appeal after legal fireworks from Counsel to Ngige, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Akunyili, Chief O. A. Obianwu, the five-man panel presided over by Justice Benton West, dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.

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