Imo 2019: Okolienta heads to Supreme Court

...Insists he won the AA Guber ticket

The last has not been heard about the legal tussle involving Mr. Leonard Okolienta and Chief Uche Nwosu over the Guber ticket of the Action Alliance (AA), in the just concluded 2019 General elections in Imo State.

It will be recalled that Mr. Okolienta had approached the court seeking the recovery of the AA Guber ticket, which he claims to have duly won, during the party's primary.

According to him, Chief Uche Nwosu was of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the time the Action Alliance conducted her primaries and cannot claim to be the authentic candidate of the party.

Following an unfavorable judgment at the lower court, Mr. Okolienta had approached the appellate court in search of justice.

When the matter came up for hearing on Thursday 6th June, 2019, The presiding judge Hon. Justice R.C. Agbo had stated that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter since the 60 days provided for the hearing of the case, which was filed on 5th of April had elapsed.

But Barr. Nwankenta had argued, leaning on Section 285 (12), that in computing the 60 days of hearing the appeal, the 5 days of public holiday should be taken into cognizance. This the 60 days which ought to elapse on 4th of June will not elapse on 8th of June.

Among the lawyers present at the court were Barr. Nwankenta, Barr. Achonwa Kenneth and
Barr. Ayebowe representing the Appellant.

Barr. Malachi Uwe and
Modestus Ojini, representing the 1st, 3rd and 4th respondents

Oladimeji Adebayo for the 2nd respondent.

Folashade Awofolaji and
Sharon Aniaduba for the 5th Respondent, among others.

Addressing newsmen after the appeal court verdict, Barr. Nwankenta stated that his client will approach the Supreme Court to get justice on the matter.

It will be recalled that less than two weeks ago, the Action Alliance had disowned Chief Uche Nwosu at the election petitions tribunal.