Tax suit against Gov Ikpeazu: Nwosu files notice of appeal

By Ugochukwu Alaribe ABA—One of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship aspirants in Abia State, in the December 8, 2014 primaries, Mr. Friday Nwosu, has filed a notice of appeal over the judgment of the Federal High Court, Owerri, which dismissed his suit against Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu. 

Friday Nwosu Nwosu had accused Ikpeazu of submitting a forged tax certificate and declaring false information to the PDP and INEC. However, the Federal High Court, Owerri, presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa, on July 8, ruled that Nwosu failed to prove a tax forgery case against Ikpeazu and dismissed the suit. In a notice of appeal on Suit no. FHC/OW/CS/191/2015, FHC/UM/CS/64/2015, FHC/CS/184/2015, filed at the Federal High Court, Owerri, between Sir Friday Nwosu(appellant) and PDP, INEC, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, as respondents, Nwosu sought 7 reliefs: “ An order setting aside the judgment and decision of the Court delivered on July 8,2016. An order granting the appellant necessary consequential order including an order for the plaintiff to be returned as the duly elected governor of Abia State and an order granting the reliefs sought by the appellant in the originating summons.” Others include; an order directing INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued the 3rd respondent (Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu) as the elected Governor of Abia State by virtue of the April 2015 governorship election held in Abia State, an order directing the 2nd respondent (INEC) to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to the plaintiff as the elected governor of Abia State and an order allowing the appeal, among others. He also outlined 26 grounds of appeal and particulars of error on which the court occasioned a miscarriage of justice. According to him, “The trial Judge erred in law when he held that the plaintiff did not prove a tax forgery case against the 3rd defendant, even when information on the face of the document speaks for themselves”.