Akunyili vs Ngige: Appeal court okays re-trial

The Court of Appeal sitting in Enugu, yesterday, dismissed an appeal by Senator Chris Ngige challenging the decision of the court to send the petition of the former Information Minister, Prof Dora Akunyili, to the lower tribunal for re-trial.
The appellate court had last year upturned the ruling of the tribunal sitting in Awka, Anambra State, which struck out Akunyili’s petition challenging the election of Ngige who represents Anambra Central in the senate on technical grounds.
But dissatisfied by the ruling on grounds that sending the petition for re-trial was a violation of the provisions of Electoral Act which gave a time limit for such petition, Ngige approached the court to upturn itself.
Ruling on the appeal after legal fireworks from counsel to Ngige, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, and that of Akunyili, Chief O. A. Obianwu, the five-man panel presided over by Justice Benton West dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
The panel, however, said it would give details of the judgement at a later date.

Source: VANGUARD