A five-justice panel of the Court of Appeal, Enugu, today failed to agree on a verdict in a case filed by Emmanuel Nnamdi (Andy) Uba pleading to be declared Anambra State’s governor-in-waiting. Instead, the court, led by Justice J. S. Ngwuta, has set a new date of November 13 for its ruling.
A source close to one of the justices told Saharareporters that the court’s inability to hand down a ruling today was largely dictated by our detailed expose on the intrigues and scandals involved in the gubernatorial elections petition appeal case brought by Mr. Uba. Our reports had disclosed that Mr. Uba, who amassed a huge wealth during the eight years he worked as former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s aide on domestic matters, had arranged to furnish some of the justices with millions of dollars in cash in exchange for a ruling that he must assume the governorship next March.
Another source told Saharareporters that the five-person panel could not arrive at an acceptable judgment due to the tension generated by the information that they were about to give a favorable verdict to Mr. Uba against popular expectation. A relative of Justice Ngwuta’s, a captain of the plot to smuggle Mr. Uba back to Government House, Awka, told our correspondent that members of the justice’s community had received numerous threats of mayhem “to Justice Ngwuta and his relatives if our son should take part in any deal to bring Chief Uba back to office.” The man said members of the community had conveyed the threats to Justice Ngwuta.
Mr. Uba spent two weeks in 2007 as a governor “selected” by Professor Maurice Iwu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, before a panel of the Supreme Court summarily removed him from office, chiding INEC for conducting an election when incumbent Governor Peter Obi was yet to finish his tenure.
Mr. Uba has since returned twice to the apex court in futile bids to be returned to office. He subsequently hired Mr. Wole Olanipekun to approach the Court of Appeal in a case many Nigerian lawyers liken to asking an inferior court to override a decision of the Supreme Court. Mr. Olanipekun, who represented Umaru Yar’adua in the presidential elections appeal, then collaborated with outgoing Court of Appeal President, Umaru Abdullahi, in an elaborate scheme to induce five justices of the court’s Enugu division to impose Uba as the next governor without an election. Our investigations indicated that Mr. Olanipekun had transferred the pay-off cash in millions of dollars to Justice Abdullahi to be dispensed to the justices after they have delivered a verdict for Uba.
A source close to Uba told Saharareporters last night, hours before the postponed ruling, that Uba and Iwu had decided that “there can be no new election in Anambra,” adding that “Chief Uba is confident, this time, that the judges will deliver.”
Maurice Iwu, who remains grateful to Uba for tapping him for the INEC position, has enthusiastically supported the plot to bring the former presidential aide to the governor’s seat without a credible election.
One of our sources said the Court of Appeal panel might capitalize on the judicial workers’ strike as an excuse for their inability to sit today.
Comments (41)
Subscribe to this comment's feed
ade bello
said:
 |
... My worry is, do these people remember their judicial oath? And that they swore by the Holy Books that they would do justice to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill-will? Aren't these the same people who get chieftaincy titles in society, mosques and churches, honorary degrees and national honours? This is a reminder to those conferring these honours that they are the ones encouraging thievery in our society. The Almighty is watching, and will recompence them all accordingly. good night, fellow countrymen. |
Nnamdi
said:
 |
... Uba and his group should leave Anambra state alone,we are tired of one thief after another.Anambra is not a testing ground for all manner of political thieves .Anambraians will vote 4 their leader come feb 2010.let Andy rest his time is over. |
governor-in-waiting
said:
 |
... Anambra is in deep shit! If Uba ia declared governor-in-waiting it means that all these billions he would have spent in buying himself the governorship would have to be recouped from the State treasury before more plundering of the State's resources would start! Hell, Anambra, you are in serious trouble!!!! Anyway let's hope that some concerned Nigerians would appeal to the Supreme Court if Uba is declared governor. And in the Supreme Court history would repeat itself and Uba would be thrown out again in the cold where he belongs. Uba, go ahead with spending your ill-gotten money; it will not fetch you anything. |
Sampson Nwoha
said:
 |
... I salute the courage and forthrightness of Sowore. God will continue to protect you and your informants. You are true patriots. |
pee
said:
 |
... Who no go fear Ikemba? If na you nko? If they like, let them postpone the ruling hundred times. Nigerians are watching and waiting for them. From experience, no fraudulent Judge connected to this Anambra Governance imbroglio will go scot free. |
John Okoronkwo
said:
 |
... This Sahara Reporters are going higher everyday, I love this guys with everything in my blood, keep feeding me with reputable information please, God bless ya all. |
Obiadi
said:
 |
... Chie! This must be in a dream! Just recently Nigerian judiciary was celebrated for their bold steps in strangulating and breaking the bad eggs. Today, Uba and his dastard cohorts had began another deadly mission to cause another traffic jams in the polity. Such precedent must not be allowed! God forbid! If the Enugu Appellate Judges could kill their conscience, they must not do so to the detriment of millions of poor Nigerians in general and Anambra people in particularly if they do, LAW OF CAMA WILL SEE THEM! May God save Nigeria! Obiadi (UK) |
Dr Pat Kolawole Boboye
said:
 |
... justice Abdulahi Muhammed must be interrogated and prosecuted by EFCC,ICPC and CCB if Nigeria is democratic and civilized nation and not a backwater of banana republic as being portrayed by PDP-Umaru Yar'dua's llegitimate pro-injustice mauraders in the corridors of power via OBJ.Abdulahi Muhammed is corruption kingpin and brain behind most bribery cases involving election petitions like Yar'dua's presidential election petition by Atiku Abubakar and Gen M Buhari during which Justice Abdulahi Muhammed arranged taking of bribery by the by the justices like justice Niki Tobi in S20million dollars bribe each but some juctices refused to compromised their position.Everything fraud and bribery link to justice Abdulahi Muhammed of the appeal court, be arrested and prosecuted if the lower Federal appeal court deliver governor in waitng judgement for Andy Uba against suppreme court judgement which invalidated Uba's election in Anambra Stae easlier. dr Pat Kolawole Boboye,Canada |
Bello Sani
said:
 |
... Andy Uba deserves to be in Government House ,just not the one in Awka , but the one in kiri kiri , where Bode George is . Remember folks November the 13th , is a FRIDAY ! . Thank you SR for being the only voice of the people and championing the Nigerian Revolution . |
Nat Harry
said:
 |
... PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE NIGERIA CAN CHIEF BAR OLISA AGBOKOBA CO-CHAIR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE NBA ONCE MORE WITH THE GUY DOING THE JOB NOW. HE IS TRYING BUT NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS OLISA. OLISA NIGERIA AND NIGERIANS NEED YOUR VOICE, NBA COME OUT AND SPEAK. SAVE THE NIGERIA JUDICIARY. THE NIGERIA JUDICIARY IS IN SHAMBLES. KUTUGI AND THE NIGERIA JUDICIARY COMMISSION ARE THEMSELVES COMPROMISED. NIGERIA JUDICIARY IS A LAUGHING STOCK WORLD WIDE. WE ARE ASHAMED. MAY YOU PLEASE ALLOW US TO INVOKE YOUR HONOURABLE SPIRITS? SIR. ADETEKUMBO ADEMOLA, DARNLEY ARTHUR ALEXANDER, TASLIM OLAWALE ELIAS, LOUIS MBANEFO, ATANDA FATAI WILLIAMS, APKAMGBO, AND OUR LEGAL ICONS CHUKWUDIFU OPUTA AND N. ONWUAMAEGBU OUR HONORABLE MEN OF HONOR HAVE YOU ALL SEEN WHAT NIGERIA JUDICIARY UNDER KUTIGI, THE SCHIZOPHRENIA YARADUA, JUSTICE UMARU ABDULLAHI HAVE TURNED OUR JUDICIARY TO BE. FOR SURE GENERATIONS AND POSTERITY UNBORN WILL NEVER FORGIVE THESE BASTARDS |
Egoigwe
said:
 |
... All you folks who have been thanking SR for a job well done, please put your wallets or credit cards where your mouth is. SR needs all the support it can get to continue the good job. Investigative journalism requires a tremendous amount of resources; logistics, mobility, a serious dose of hard work and goodwill. You may donate anonymously or personally but please show the love you profess through your pocket books that SR may continue to live in all our hearts. |
S. Njokede
said:
 |
... The devil is in it. The judges are walking on a tightrope. It´s like the whole world is against them. Even Ikemba Ojukwu´s comment that another war would occur if Uba is made governor, isn´t helping matters at all. |
philip abuja
said:
 |
... our judiciary must not heat up the politics.is it possible for a lower court to review the judgement of a higher court. The Appeal court justices are doing these just because of the money they have collected.justice Ngwuta and the other justices should be ashamed of themselves.Supreme court judgement is very clear on the matter. If they should go ahead and give that suicide judgment, they will definately go the way of justice Egbo- Egbo. Justice Umaru Abdulahi is the go-between in these matter.he has collected billions of money from Andy Uba. he is the most corrupt judge that have ever live in Nigeria.He is a uselless man. |
AAA
said:
 |
... @Ikoro, u are damned right. As much as all we do is to sit in front of our computer and continue posting comments, some of which are irrelevant, we will never move from the state we are in today. How many of those posting comments are ready to make sacrifice for a CHANGE even if they are AWARE it could cost THEIR BELOVED LIFE for this great COUNTRY of ours? |
Jide Aroso
said:
 |
... Nigeria is finished. How I wonder why an inferior court could continue to entertain a case effectively ruled upon by the supreme court. Also, the only reason why there isn't an agreement is corrupt reasons. There are 5 judges there so at least 3 of them should agree to install UBA. Then we would know those who are corrupt and the ones that are not. |
joe igbokwe
said:
 |
... Whether there is stalemate or not lam not losing sleep over the so-clled verdict of the 5 Appeal Judges because it is a bird that cannot fly. There are Judges in Nigeria and there are also Judges. Let me see a criminal and corrupt Judge in Nigeria that will grant the criminal request of this element called Andy Ubah and his band of foolish followers.The truth is that there was no event in Anambra State in 2007 called Governorship elections talkless of producing a winner in Andy Ubah.It is a figment of some people,s imagination that an election took place in 2007 in Anambra and we wait too see the so-called Governor in waiting in GOVERNMENT HOUSE AWKA. It is only then then that we will know whether men are in short supply in Anambra State.We wait for the verdict! |
Mary John
said:
 |
... Saharareporters.com please how can ordinary citizens participate in helping to support you finnancially? You are a voice of the people and I love you and I believe Nigerians love you. Please tell us how we can support in our little ways. PLEASE, NEVER ACCEPT SPONSORSHIP FROM THE CORRUPT. WE LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING. GO GO, GO ON SR. |
Imiava Tendency
said:
 |
... I was on the Nigerian Law School grounds yesterday to felicitate with a friends daughter's call to the Bar. I put the question to about two old lawyers on this Anambra wahala . Their responses were as divergent as they failed to address the substantive issue: Can a lower court entertain a case on which the Supreme court had adjudicated upon? To say the least, they were a confused bunch. The late Gani remained inimitable. He never touched with a ten foot pole a case that ran against the will of the people. His guiding principle was the defense of the will of the people against the tyranny of the mighty/powerful. The question has remained that the Supreme court justices that tried the Obi case had no jurisdiction. But we also forget that it was more of a political judgment that approximated the will of the people.An attempt to reopen the case as the Appeal court is doing will be testing, nay subverting the will of the people. |
POOR MAN
said:
 |
... PLEAS WE WILL LIKE TO HAVE THE NAMES AND PICTURES OF THE JUDGES WHO SAID YES TO INSTALLING ANDY UBA, THE TIME FOR SITTING ON THE FENCE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS PASSED.....THE REVOLUTION IS ON |
Abdul Jimoh
said:
 |
... The fact that Chief Wole Olanipekun took Andy Uba's brief simply shows that the man lacks any integrity and has now constituted himself into a prostitute without any qualms about the consequences of his actions! Is he unaware of the Supreme Court's rulings? The man was a principal participant in ambushing Mike Ahamba during the Buhari v Yar'Adua case and got away with it - only for now though! To me, we are attacking the wrong people; we need to focus on legal-brief harlots like Chief Wole Olanipekun. My heart aches to think that he was an NBA president at one time. Another disgrace to the legal profession! |
MICHAEL IJERE
said:
|
... THE FACT THAT THERE IS EVEN A DEADLOCK IS ENOUGH CAUSE FOR WORRY : THE GRAPEVINE SAYS THAT THE CONDESCENDING JUDGES IN THE CASE HAVE BEEN PAID ONE BILLION NAIRA EACH AND THAT THIS DEADLOCK MIGHT BE A PLOY TO ASK THE ROBBER TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY, EITHER WAY WE WILL NEVER ACCEPT MR ANDY UBA, HE WHO HAS EARS LET HIM HEAR!!! |
Toyin Ade
said:
 |
... NBA needs to investigate Olanipekun (SAN) and mete appropriate disipline to him if he participated in the bribery alligation against the Judges.He is a senior lawyer.What example is he trying to pass to the junior lawyers in this country?????? |
georgeo
said:
 |
... The Justices have murdered sleep and therefore cannot sleep until they do the right thing which is - to throw this case out to enable a credible election take place in 2010. Kudos to those Justices mentioned in Saharareporters last week who have stood their ground and have refused to buckle in the face of great finanacial inducement. I pray that they remain steadfast till the end in Jesus name- AMEN. |
PASTOR PETERS OMORAGBON
said:
 |
... Fellow Countrymen, What is the Nigerian Bar Assoiation doing to actually investigate this grave allegations of corrupt practices and under cuttings to twart the course of justice,against a SAN-OLANIPEKUN from your reports? Does it mean that, all the victories Olanipekun must have had in the past were through this same process of bribery and corruption? Please, this is a dangerous trend as the common man will be at the receiving end, if we are to buy justice!! |
Thunder fire dem mama
said:
 |
... Nigeria.....laughs...Fuji House of Commotion This is complete madness Without Revolution,peeps forget it,they are all deaf and dumb! |
tale tale
said:
 |
... EMEKA IT IS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE MESS THAT THIS COUNTRY IS IN AT THE MOMENT. INSTEAD OF YOU TO BE THANKFULL THAT FOR ONCE NIGERIANS ARE GETTING A FORUM FOR FREE EXPRESSION AND UN-BIASED JOURNALISM YOU ARE EXPOSING YOUR PENCHANT FOR CORRUPTION AND IREGULARITY. BUT KNOW IT THAT THOSE DAYS OF BUSINESS AS USUAL ARE FAST COMING TO AN END THANKS TO FORUMS LIKE SR. LONG LIVE SRRRRRRRRRRRRR |
Toyin Ade
said:
|
... The Ubas are miscreants.The elder Uba is a con man while the junior one is a thug.Their presence in Anambra is a curse than blessing.Anambra people need to carry out thorough research into their lineage to know if truly they are from Anambra state.They may be aliens in Anambra state because somebody that truly belong to a comminuty cannot be bent on destroying it. The Uba brothers are illiterates. |
Toyin Ade
said:
|
... WE just need to thank SR for this meritorious service being provided to Nigeria & Nigerians.SH has made the enemies of Nigerian democracy to lose all their hiding places.Iwu is an unrepentant criminal.He is a leopard that will never change.Andy Uba is a con man,that is why he was able to recommend Iwu, a fellow con man for INEC chairmanship during OBJ's regime. If the induced Judges declare a purchased judgment,people of Anambra should make sure that they spend the millions of Dollars that they have collected in underground 6ft chamber.Those compromised Judges are not fit to live among living human beings, they belong to the world below. |
JIMMY IWEALA
said:
 |
... MY PLEA WITH SR IS NEVER COMPROMISE WITH THE GOVERNMENT OR THEIR AGENTS BY ACCEPTING BUSINESSES FROM THEM. YOU WILL SURELY ENJOY BUSINESS WHEN THE ROUGES IN POWER ARE FORCEFULLY REMOVED BY NIGERIANS. WE WILL GET THERE SOON. THE MORE THE AWARENESS AND EXPOSURES OF EVIL IN THE LAND BY THE RECYCLED ROUGES IN THE CORRIDOR OF POWER, THE MORE AGGRIEVED WE BECOME AND THAT TAKES US CLOSER TO WHEN THE BUBBLE WILL BURST. SOON! |
udoud
said:
 |
... The people's power is greater than whatever the rogues feel they can buy with stolen mammon money. It is exciting what the corrupt Judge's community did and if all our communities do same to all manners of corruption, things will certainly improve. As for the corrupt lawyers who are not ashamed to take up such wicked cases, the judgement delivered by the Supreme in the case of Omehia against Ameachi and the rage demonstrated by the supreme court Judges against the lawyers who handled the bizzare case is a pointer that Olanipekun will be disgraced eventually. How I wish his community send strong warnings to him to desist from troubling the sole of Nigeria by defending corruption in the name of practising law. |
Oluyemi Ikumawoyi
said:
 |
... Emeka! Be careful!In fact, where do you live? No wonder, a village in Enugu.Have you heard of investigating journalism?If not, keep your mouth shut, the judiciary has compromised in discharging their constitutional role. And if you don't know, the media is the forth unofficial arm of govt to checkmate the activities of the three others. "abeg go sidon and eat your akpu and ukasi soup" |
Emeka Anambra
said:
 |
... They are suffering from a sudden attack of conscience. We the people of anambra will surely not forgive anyone bent on reversing our good fortunes or the prospects of it. Our ancestors protected Ngige, restored Obi and will surely give us a free and fair election in 2010. The Justices will not know sleep and Anambra will not know peace till her enemies rest in peace. We wish them luck n their deliberations or money sharing, whatever. |
Ikoro Amanba
said:
 |
... Sahara Reports has to be sure it is reporting facts and if it so,who then is to blame in all these mess going on in Nigeria? Not the Ubas nor the Iwus,nor the Soludos and the Anenis,plus those blood thirsty devils of the WADATA enclave,but we the people who have refused to say 'enough is enough'. |
Femi Omo-Owa
said:
 |
... It will be a judicial mess if the appeal court should declare Andy Uba as governor-in-waiting after the Supreme Court had nulified the election! All this people who do not want justice, peace and transparency in this country only make use of Nigeria as a 'foreign' country or, even their colony where they exploit and cart their 'booty' abroad to sponsor their children who will later come home take over power from them when they are old. Yes they make use our resources to co-develop the overseas as if they will live for ever. Not until Nigerian masses rise against this people and say 'No' to these catarpillars they will eat Nigeria to the bone while the money they cart away will be used to cater for the rest of their lives. No matter the kind of machine guns the mobile police must have brought, Anambra should resist the 'idles' Andy Uba and PDP. PDP is there for their own not for you, and not for us. |
Donald Eke
said:
 |
... Reply to the "ESQ-man" Emeka Onyeaka. If all SR does is junk journalism, I for one can't help but wonder why you vist this site. As a lawyer or should I say "liar" one should expect you to know better, but you are just one of them. show me the money and you can have my soul, shame on all of you. |
Ibezimako
said:
 |
... This case is an insult on the sensibility of Nigerians because how can the hieghest Court in the land give their verdict on a matter only for a lower Court to go back and adjudicate on same? It beats one's imagination hollow, the so called Uba family should watch it.They cannot govern Anambra State by force.  |
Barrister Henchard Ginigaeme
said:
 |
... Are u sure those corrupt judges have access to these news.That is one important point.They should be made to aware of the objective reporting by Sahara |
Emeka Onyeaka,Esq
said:
 |
... why are you blackmailing the justices of the court and impeding them from carrying out their constitutional duties?let them decide the application one way or the other then the counsel in the matter should know what to do rather than this junk journalism and licentious propaganda.you are killing our judiciary, all in the name of online reporting.as usual,i bet you will not publish this as it offends your set 'standard'. |
Benson, Switzerland
said:
 |
... Which way Nigeria...which way my fatherland... What is it that money, ego, kudi, owo, cannot do in Nigeria? |
Carters
said:
 |
... SR thanks for successfully ambushing the invading mauruders. If this case is allowed to go the way it has been planned,Nigeria would loose the remaining tiny string binding its umblical cord to the womb of the nation. Please don't let down the steam.Andy and his cohorts belong to the prison not Govt house. |
Write comment
