…Awards cost of N60m against lawyers to APC
The Supreme Court has rejected the applications by the All Progressives Congress and two others for a review of February 13, 2020 judgment in the Bayelsa State governorship dispute.
A seven-member panel of the court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, dismissed the two application filed and argued for the applicants by Afe Babalola (SAN) and Wole Onanipekun (SAN), and held that the applications were without merit and amounted to abuse of court process.
Justice Amina Augie, who read the lead ruling, said the application was an attempt to make the court violate its rules and the provision of the Constitution which makes it the final court of the land.
Justice Augie said the applications, if granted has the capacity of belittling the dignity and status of the court and open a floodgate for such request in the future.
She expressed regret that senior lawyers in the country could be involved in the filing of such applications.
Justice Augie awarded N10 million cost for each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents (the PDP, its governorship and deputy governorship in the last election) – Sen. Duoye Diri and. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo – to be paid personally by the applicant’s lawyers.
Afe Babalola (SAN) represented the 1st and 2nd applicants (Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo), while Wole Olanipekun (SAN) represented the APC.