In a six-to-one judgement, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the application by the sacked Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha for a review of the court’s January 14, 2020 judgment, sacking him.
While the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad led five others to dismiss the application on the grounds that the court’s decision is final.
Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who read the lead ruling, held that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to review its judgment once it is delivered and that there is no law that mandates the court to reverse itself.
But in a dissenting opinion, Justice Centus Nweze held that the court change its mind on any decision, having done so in the past.
Justice Nweze held that the the portion of judgment of the Court of Appeal, which struck out the petition by Hope Uzodinma, was not resolved by the Supreme Court.
He held that the Supreme Court was without jurisdiction to have given the judgment it gave declaring Uzodinma winner.
The apex court delivered its judgment after hearing arguments from all parties involved in the case instituted by the sacked Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha asking the court to review its judgment which sacked him from office and installed Hope Uzodinma of the APC.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal by Ihedioha and the PDP asking it to review its verdict which sacked him as the Imo State governor.
With Tuesday’s ruling, Senator Hope Uzodinma has been confirmed as the authentic governor of Imo State.
Earlier, while presenting their cases, counsel to Ihedioha and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kanu Agabi (SAN), prayed the court to set aside its January 14 judgment and restore the judgement of the Court of Appeal that gave victory to Ihedioha, which the Supreme had voided.
On his part, lawyer to Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who benefitted from the Supreme Court ruling in Imo State, Damian Dodo (SAN) prayed the court to retain its judgment and throw out the request by Ihedioha.
