The presiding judge, Justice A. Demi-Ajayi, in her ruling, said the Plaintiff, Moses Anaughe won the APC primary conducted on October 5, 2018 but his name was “illegally substituted” for Egbo’s.
She awarded a cost of N100,000 in favour of the plaintiff against the APC and Olorogun Egbo, both of who are 1st and 3rd defendants respectively.
Also, in her ruling, the judge said: “If indeed the 3rd defendant won the primary, the 1st and 3rd defendants would have exhibited an INEC report for the election to buttress this assertion.
“The originating summons of the plaintiff is found to be meritorious and the court grants its reliefs and declarations and award a N100, 000 cost to the plaintiff against the 1st and 3rd defendants.”
Reacting to the ruling, counsel to the plaintiff, Adegho Ochuko, said: “It is a well-decided judgment because it was an issue of denial after my client won the primary, went to the appeal panel of the party, yet the name of another aspirant was sent as the candidate of the party and in the light of that, he started the legal struggle.
“There is room for appeal but there is nothing to appeal against.”
Speaking on the ruling, Egbo said: “As a lawyer, my first allegiance is to the law profession and I am duty-bound to obey whatever the court decides but that doesn’t stop me from seeking justice in the appellate court and I have already instructed my lawyer to file a notice of appeal against the judgment because I know that the court has erred in reaching this discussion.
“So we believe that we will take advantage of the appellate court to make our case and seek justice and we believe that at the end of the day, justice will be served.”
