The Supreme Court on Friday struck out an appeal brought before it by Ikie Aghwarianovwe against the governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, for allegedly presenting false information about his academic qualification and date of birth to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While ruling on Friday, a five-member panel of the court, was unanimous in holding that Aghwarianovwe’s appeal lacked merit because he failed to show that the decisions of the two lower courts that formally ruled on the matter were faulty.
Justice Adamu Jauro wrote the lead judgment, which was read on by Justice Emmanuel Agim.
The apex court ruled that the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Asaba division, delivered on 5th May 2023 which upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court, Asaba division, to the effect that Aghwarianovwe failed to prove his case beyond every reasonable doubt and that Oborevwori was qualified to stand for the last gubernatorial election in the state.
Justice Jauro however, stated that none of the grounds of the appeal showed that the findings of the two lower courts were bad.
He added: “After a very detailed consideration of every argument of all the parties on the various issues raised, I find that no matter how the instant appeal is viewed it is bound to fail.
“There is no saving grace for it. Right from the grounds of appeal, to the prominent issue of jurisdiction and now to the merit itself, the appeal was dead on arrival, with zero chance of success.
“Flowing from the foregoing, I find no merit in the instant appeal. I dismiss same,” he said and proceeded to affirm the earlier decisions of two lower courts.”
However, Justice Jauro awarded a cost of N6 million against the appellant, to be paid at N3m each for the first and second respondents – PDP and Oborevwori.