Justices of the Court of Appeal in Calabar, Monday, withdrew from hearing
an appeal filed by Senator John Owan Enoh against the judgement of a
Federal High Court that recognizes Pastor Usani Uguru Usani as the
governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross
River State.
This follows a petition by the Godwin Etim John-led leadership of the
party in the state, accusing the justices of collecting N250 million bribe
to swing judgement.
Speaking with journalists moments after the justices withdrew from hearing
the appeal, counsel to Senator John Owan Enoh who is one of the factional
APC governorship candidates in the state, Bernard Afu (esq), said they
have been served the petition.
“What happened today is awkward, it is something that is strange to
judicial proceedings. We were served with two strange petitions written by
Godwin Etim John against the justices of the Court of Appeal.”
According to him, “one of the petitions alleged that the justices have
been given N250 million and the second petition did not allege any
financial inducement.
“We addressed the court accordingly and the Honourable Justices of the
Court of Appeal took a stand that they were withdrawing from the
proceedings.”
Following the development, he said he expects that a new panel will be
constituted constituted soon.