Diri remains Governor, declares Supreme; ‘fines’ APC and David Lyon’s lawyers

The much expected legal fireworks in the Supreme Court was a no-show on Wednesday as the apex court restated its earlier judgment making Senator Duoye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor of Bayelsa State.
The Supreme Court went a step further in the judgment and ordered the counsels to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the party’s candidate, David Lyon, to pay costs to Diri, his deputy, and the PDP.
They are to each pay Governor Douye Diri, his deputy Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo and the PDP N10 million.
Justice Amina Augie who read the judgment described the applications of Lyon and APC as frivolous and vexatious, and awarded the cost of N10 million against the applicants to be personally paid by their counsels.
She said the application by the ruling party and its candidate lacked merit adding that the applicants failed to point out errors, stating that the judgment is final.
Said Justice Augie: “There must be an end to litigation even if we review this judgment, every disaffected litigant will bring similar applications and the finality of Supreme Court judgments will be lost.”
Lyon and APC had sought a reversal of the judgment which disqualified its candidate in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, David Lyon Pereworimin.
The APC in the reversal application filed by its team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) with Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) also wants the Supreme Court to set aside the “wrong” interpretation given to its judgment of February 13, 2020 and the subsequent execution by the Independent National. electoral Commission (INEC).
Among others, APC is contending that the Apex Court, in its judgment, misinterpreted the November 12, 2019 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which it affirmed.
The party argued that the Supreme Court acted without jurisdiction and denied it fair hearing when it proceeded to disqualify its governorship candidate even though the Federal High Court, in the judgment by Justice Inyang Ekwo, which the apex court affirmed, refused the prayer to disqualify Lyon.
APC also faulted the interpretation given to the Supreme Court judgment by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in deciding to issue certificate of return to the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It stated: “After reinstating the judgment of the trial court in the judgment of this court of the 13th February, 2020, this court proceeded to disqualify the governorship candidate of the applicant despite the fact that the trial High Court refused to grant the reliefs for his disqualification and there was no appeal against same.
“In this court’s judgment of 13th February, 2020, the court erroneously and inadvertently stated that the trial High Court consequentially disqualified the applicant‘s governorship candidate even though the trial court made no such order and when the trial court indeed refused to grant the express orders sought by the plaintiffs therein for his disqualification.”
The APC, particularly wants the Supreme Court to set aside portions of its judgment where it held that the Federal High Court, in disqualifying its Deputy Governorship candidate, proceeded to disqualify its governorship candidate; and where it held that joint ticket of its candidates was vitiated by the disqualification of the Deputy Governorship candidate and that both candidates are deemed not to be candidates in. the election
It further prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the portion of the judgment where it ordered INEC to declare as winner of the governorship election, candidates with the highest number of lawful votes; and where it ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to its governorship candidate and the issuance of fresh one to the candidate who had the highest number of lawful votes.
The APC argued that it was wrong for the Supreme Court to have voided its candidates’ participation in the election, when, the judgment by the Federal High Court, disqualifying its deputy governorship candidate, was stayed as at when the election was conducted.
It stated: “By an originating summons dated 12th September, 2019, in Suit NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/ 1101/2019, the respondents approached the Federal High Court for a total of 10 reliefs.
In the judgment of the Federal High Court, per justice Inyang Ekwo delivered on 12th November. 2019, the said court granted only 6 (six) of the reliefs.
“In the drawn up order of the Federal High Court duly signed by the trial judge the six reliefs granted are clearly encapsulated therein.
“In specific reference to the reliefs for the disqualification of the governorship candidate of the applicant, the trial court refused to grant the plaintiffs’ prayers to disqualify him.
“It was only the Deputy Governorship candidate of the applicant (Biobarakuma Degl-Eremienyo) that the trial High Court made an order of disqualification against.
“Applicant and its governorship and deputy governorship candidates timeously appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court to the Court of Appeal, and also applied for a stay of execution of the said judgment pending appeal.
“By on order made on 13th November 2019, the Court of Appeal. Abuja division, stayed the execution of the judgment of the trial High Court delivered on 12th November, 2019.
“As at the time the governorship election in Bayelsa State was conducted on 16th November 2019, the order for stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal was subsisting and there was no appeal against it.
“The judgment of the Court of Appeal was delivered on 23rd December, 2019 whereby the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the trial High Court delivered on 12th November. 2019.
“There was no cross-appeal to the Court of Appeal against the decision of the trial High Court refusing to make an order disqualifying the governorship candidate of the applicant (Lyon Dovid Pereworimin).
“In the judgment of this Supreme Court delivered on 13th February, 2019 this honourable court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal and restored the decision of the trial High Court.
In the enrolled order of the judgment of the trial High Court, no disqualification order was made against the applicant’s candidate whether consequentially or otherwise.
“After reinstating the judgment of the trial court in the judgment of this court of the 13th February, 2020, this court proceeded to disqualify the governorship candidate of the applicant despite the fact that the trial High Court refused to grant the reliefs for his disqualification and there was no appeal against same.
“In this court’s judgment of 13th February, 2020, the court erroneously and inadvertently stated that the trial High Court consequentially disqualified the applicant‘s governorship candidate even though the trial court made no such order and when the trial court indeed refused to grant the express orders sought by the plaintiffs therein for his disqualification.
“This court acted without jurisdiction and also breached applicant’s right to fair hearing.
“With respect, the portions of the judgment of this court highlighted in the body of this application constitute a nullity.
“With respect, the decision of this court of 13th February, 2020 was premised on and vitiated by a fundamental error.
“With respect, the decision of this court of the 13th February, 2020 is contrary to public policy.
“By a press statement made on 14th February, 2020, the Chairman of the 4th (INEC) respondent purported to interpret the judgment of this Honourable Court of 13th February, 2020.
“In the said press statement, the 4th respondent reviewed the judgment of this court, gave it a different interpretation and came to a wrong conclusion. thus declaring the 2nd and 3rd respondents as the Governor and Deputy Governor elect of Bayelsa State, respectively. “