Judge Withdraws from Suit Seeking Ize- Iyamu’s Disqualification

A suit seeking the disqualification of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu and his running mate, Mr. Audu Ganiyu, from the forthcoming election in the state, yesterday suffered a major setback following the withdrawal of trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo from the matter.

Justice Taiwo’s withdrawal was predicated on a petition against him by the APC, wherein he was accused of bias and fraternising with Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council in the September 19 governorship election in Edo State.

Two chieftains of the APC, Momoh Abdul-Razak and Zibiri Muhizu had dragged Ize-Iyamu and Ganiyu to court over alleged perjury.

Defendants in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/758/2020, include the APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Ganiyu and Ize-Iyamu as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to disqualify the deputy governorship candidate, Ganiyu from participating in the forthcoming election on account of giving false information to the INEC in aid of his qualification for the governorship poll slated for next month.

However, hearing in the matter was last month stalled following a petition against the judge by the APC.

The party in the petition had prayed the judge to suspend further hearing in the matter, pending the directive of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

Justice Taiwo had on August 24 declined to grant the prayer and rather adjourned till September 4, for hearing of all pending motions.

However, when the matter came up yesterday, Justice Taiwo in a short ruling recused himself from the matter on account of the petition against him, adding that he has to protect his integrity and that of the court.

“As judges and lawyers in the temple of justice, it is our duty to protect the integrity of the court and that of the judiciary.