Benue guber: Court okays applications by Jime, others

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted all the application in the suit seeking to disqualify the former Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Benue State.

Aggrieved governorship aspirants: Prof Steve Torkuma Ugbah, Chief Joseph Waku, Hon. Emmanuel Jime and Hon. Mike Iordye had filed the suit challenging the emergence of Ortom in a December 2014 meeting brokered by the Senate minority leader, Senator George Akume, in Makurdi.

In a ruling Friday, Justice Chukwu Evoh held that he has the jurisdiction to hear the main matter. He therefore dismissed an application by defence counsel Sebastian Hon (SAN) seeking to refer the matter to the Appeal Court for interpretation.

The judge also granted the aspirants’ application brought by their counsel Sunday Ameh (SAN) to discontinue their case against Ortom as well as Abba Yaro, the APC chairman in the state.

They are now to continue the suit against the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The case has been adjourned to March 13 for hearing.