A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Ben Onyechere, has called for the punishment of Justice Okon Abang, over his recent ruling sacking Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
This is as Onyechere, a former Special Assistant to ex-Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, described the ruling of the Appeal Court, setting aside Abang’s pronouncement as a testament to the serenity of the appellate court.
Recall that Justice Abang had on June 27, 2016, sacked Ikpeazu for allegedly submitting forged tax documents during the party’s governorship primary that produced him as governor in 2015.
The judge had also ordered the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Ikpeazu’s challenger in the party’s primary, Dr Uche Ogah, with the Certificate of Return which was done.
However, the Court of Appeal on August 19, 2016, set aside Abang’s ruling, describing it as an error.
Commending the appellate court for its ruling, Onyechere said, the Appeal Court has once again absolved itself of attempt to smear the image of the judiciary, Vanguard reports.
According to Onyechere, “The judgement is a protection of truth and demonstration of integrity as much as a reposition of hope in the survival of democracy.
“But this venerability of this judgment cannot be complete without a judicial inquiry against Justice Abang who in recent times has struggled hard to diminish ethos of sound and sane judgement.
“Justice Abang cannot and should not go unpunished because such judgments as his, portrays the judiciary in bad light. The right of choice by voters cannot be altered by an ill-conceived judgment.
“The Appeal Court judgment has saved Abia State from imminent break down of law and order which could have spelt doom for democracy in the country at large. The mandate of the governor which was restored is a re-invigoration of the multifarious developmental initiatives of the governor for which reason Abia is evidently wearing a new look.”