The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed Emeka Ihedioha’s application to review his removal as Imo State governor.
Ihedioha, the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), submitted his request at the Supreme Court headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.
The Supreme Court had on January 14, nullified Ihedioha’s election as governor and declared Senator Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 9 governorship election in the State.
While the Chief Justice of Nigeria
(CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad led five others to dismiss the application on
the grounds that the court’s decision is final,.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who read the lead ruling, held that the Supreme
Court lacked the jurisdiction to review its judgment once it is delivered,
adding that there is no law that mandates the court to reverse itself.
In a dissenting opinion, however,Justice Centus Nweze held that the court can change its mind on any decision, having done so in the past.
Justice Nweze held that the portion of judgment of the Court of Appeal, which struck out the petition by Hope Uzodinma, was not resolved by the Supreme Court.
He therefore held that the Supreme Court was without jurisdiction to have given the judgment it gave declaring Uzodinma winner.
Spontaneous celebrations by Uzodinma’s supporters followed immediately in the State capital Owerri. They sang and danced uncontrollably around the metropolis.
Governor Uzodinma said his victory is a sign that there is hope Imo will be better, while applauding the judiciary for its landmark judgement.
The governor spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Oguwuike Nwachukwu, saying: “The victory is for the people and democracy and this has shown that Imo is hopeful that it would be better again.”
A former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Godfrey Dikeocha, described the Supreme Court judgement as “justice according to Law” and not sentiment.
He said any contrary judgement would have amounted to an assault on the constitution and the law. “As a lawyer, I commend the noble judges for a sound and legal judgement; it’s victory for the rule of law, the integrity of the Supreme Court has been upheld by this judgement,” Dikeocha stated.