Supreme Court Gives Final Verdict On Sacking APC’s David Lyon

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld its judgment which sacked David Lyon and Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor-elect and deputy governor-elect of Bayelsa State, south-south Nigeria. 

NewsOne Nigeria reports that the Supreme Court dismissed an application for review of the judgment.

Justice Amina Augie who read the judgment,  said the application lacks merit, adding that the decisions of the court are final.

The presiding judge added that the applicants failed to point out errors, stating that the judgment is final for all ages.

Justice Augie said the judgment is final in the ‘real sense’ and no court on earth can review the judgment.

“There must be an end to litigation even if we review this judgment, every disaffected litigant will bring similar applications and the finality of Supreme Court judgments will be lost.”

The judge added that the applications are frivolous and vexatious, and awarded the cost of N10 million against the applicants to be personally paid by their counsel.

NewsOne Nigeria recalls that the Supreme court, on February 13, sacked Lyon of the APC barely 24 hours to his inauguration.

A five-member panel of the Supreme court led by Justice Mary Odili nullified Mr Lyon’s election on the grounds that his deputy, Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo, presented false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to aid his qualification for the November 16 governorship election in State.

Subsequently, the apex court ordered INEC to declare the party with the highest number of lawful votes and geographical spread the winner of the election. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Douye Diri, was later sworn in as governor.

This was sequel to a suit filed by the candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Douye Diri, against the APC candidates and INEC, seeking the disqualification of the APC deputy governorship candidate.