Appeal Court hears Ikpeazu, Nwosu suit December 5, 6

A five-man panel of the Court of Appeal sitting at the Owerri Division has fixed December 5 and 6 for the hearing of an appeal filed by Sir Friday Nwosu against the July 8 judgment of the Federal High Court in Owerri, which cleared Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of alleged submission of false information and forged tax documents.

Nwosu, who contested the December 8, 2014 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Abia State, accused Ikpeazu of submitting forged tax certificates and false information to his party.

A hearing notice by the Court of Appeal’s Registry, Owerri, reads: “Take notice that the Appeal between Sir Friday Nwosu (Appellant) and the PDP and three others (Respondents) has been fixed for hearing, ruling/mention, judgment before the Court of Appeal sitting at Port Harcourt Road in Owerri on Monday and Tuesday (December 5 and 6).”

Due to the nature of the appeal as a pre-election matter, which ought to have been decided, it is believed that the court would deliver judgment on December 6 to allow the parties who may not be satisfied with the verdict to go to the Supreme Court.

There are pending appeals on the same suit at the apex court.
The court had fixed September 22 and 23 for hearing and judgment, but when the case came up for mention on that date, Justice R. C. Agbo upheld the argument of the counsel to the fourth respondent, O. J. Nnadi (SAN), who said he was not served.

The judge adjourned the matter till October 20.

But on October 20, the court again adjourned the matter to allow the Supreme Court determine a motion filed by Nwosu.
The politician prayed the apex court to take over the matter but the motion was struck out on November 8.