By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday upheld the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which held that Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, did not forge his certificates to contest for the 2020 gubernatorial election.
The members of the Appeal Court panel, which delivered the judgement in the case with suit no CA/ABJ/CV/71/2021 between the All Progressives Congress (APC) & anor v. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki & 2 Ors., are Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Ige and Justice Mohammed Mustapha.
The Appeal of Court ruled that the lower court was apt and very clear in its judgement, noting that the appellant performed abysmally and has not proved any case.
“The findings of the lower court cannot be faulted,” it added.
The court therefore dismissed the appeal, noting that it was unmeritorious.
Upholding the judgment of the Federal High Court, the Appeal Court awarded the cost of N250,000 to be paid to the 1st Respondent and 50,000 each to the 2nd and 3rd respondents.
Meanwhile, Obaseki has hailed the ruling. Insisting that the ruling by the Court of Appeal vindicates him, he said it reiterated the fact that the suit was, from the onset, a facetious attempt to swindle Edo people through the backdoor as it was without any merit whatsoever.
According to him, “The judgement today by the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja is a victory for democracy, equity, fairness and justice. It further reassures confidence in the judiciary as an impartial umpire.
“From the content of the judgement, ab initio, all Edo people knew there was no merit in the case. It was ill-willed. It is comforting that the judiciary has upheld the truth and the verdict of Edo people.”