Stay of Execution: Court Adjourns Umahi’s Case To Monday

By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court, Abuja Division, Wednesday adjourned to Monday, March 21, 2022,  the hearing of a motion of stay of execution filed by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and his deputy, Mr Kelechi Igwe.

They want the Court to order a stay of execution on the sack order given by the Court to both the Governor and his Deputy for decamping from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under which they came to power, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Besides the Governor and his Deputy, 15 State Legislators are also asking for the stay of execution on their sack.

The Court, presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, also fixed the same day for hearing.

The Court will, also, on that date hear a similar motion by 15 lawmakers of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

Umahi has not vacated his office yet as he got a Court of alternate jurisdiction to give him a one week reprieve. Even at that, Umahi wants the Court to stop the execution of the order until an appeal is heard. They have already filed an appeal.

Upon resumption of the case Wednesday,Umahi’s lawyer, Mr Chukwuma Ma-Chulkwu-Ume (SAN), asked the court for a short time to correct some clerical errors in the motions he submitted amid a counter affidavit sworn to and filed by the lawyer to PDP, who asked the court to enforce the judgement.

Meanwhile, the plaintiff/respondents, PDP, have filed a counter affidavit wherein they urged the court not to stay the execution of its judgment.

In a short ruling, Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to Monday, March 21, for hearing.