Abia Crisis: Court hears Ikpeazu's application Thursday

Justice Okon Abang of a Fed­eral High Court in Abuja has slated July 7, 2016 to hear the motion for stay of execution in the judgment of the court that removed Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu from office.

Ikpeazu through his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) filed an application pray­ing the court to not to effect the judgment.

At the sitting of the court, yes­terday, Justice Abang who was scheduled to hear the motion in court fixed hearing for July 7.

The judge said all issues re­lating to the grant of stay as in the case of election petition will on the said day be determined whether it is applicable to a pre-election matter as in the the in­stant case.

He urged parties in the mat­ter to file an exchange necessary process before the adjourned date so as to facilitate early hear­ing of the motion.

Governor Ikpeazu had in the motion asked Justice Abang to put the judgment which re­moved him from office on hold pending the determination of his appeal filed against the judg­ment of the court at the Court of Appeal.

He told the court that the ap­peal had been entered at the ap­pellate court and that necessary steps will be taken to facilitate quick determination of the ap­peal. The Federal High Court had on June 27 ordered Gover­nor Ikpeazu to vacate office with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the notice of appeal filed by Okezie Ikpeazu against the said judgment which re­moved him as the Governor of Abia State and ordered the issu­ance of fresh certificate of return to Ogah, did not operate as a stay of execution of the judgment.