Appeal Court hands off sacked Rivers APC LG chairmen’s suit

The three justices of the Appeal Court, in a unanimous decision yesterday, said the panel would no longer continue with the case for the Supreme Court to decide the matter. Among the respondents in the matter were the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP). The panel also struck out the six respondents, Department of State Services (DSS), from the case following an oral application by the counsel for the sacked chairmen and councillors, Sabastine Hon, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who said he had right to withdraw the six respondents from the matter. Justice Dongbam Mensen, who presided, had noted that records at their disposal showed that the subject matter was already appealed by the respondents and matter adjourned at the apex court, which automatically nullified their (panel) proceedings. Justice Mensen said: “We have carefully considered the applications and submissions by counsels on the matter. It has not been contested that there is no appeal on the subject matter at the Supreme Court.]]>