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The senator representing Anambra South senatorial district, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah says he has not been sacked as a lawmaker
Ubah, in a telephone interview with our The Punch on Friday, said the FCT Court only refused to vacate its earlier ruling, which had since been faulted on the grounds of jurisdiction.
Justice Bello Kawu of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Kubwa, had earlier on Friday reaffirmed his judgement sacking Ubah for allegedly submitting a forged National Examination Council certificate to contest the February 23, 2019 senatorial election.
The judge had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Ubah and directed that a fresh one be issued to Dr. Obinna Uzoh of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), who came second at the election.
But Ubah had subsequently filed an application before the court praying for an order setting aside the judgement on the grounds that it occasioned a grave miscarriage of justice against him.
He said he was not served with the court processes or the hearing notice throughout the proceedings leading to the judgement.
On December 4, Justice Kawu granted an order of stay of execution restraining the Senate President from swearing in Uzoh, pending the hearing and determination of Ubah’s application.
The judge also ordered all parties to the suit including INEC to maintain status quo in the meantime.
But ruling on Friday, the judge dismissed the application for lacking in merit.
However, Ubah explained that Justice Kawu ruled on an application to vacate an earlier judgement of the court on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and asked the parties to proceed to the Appeal Court.
He said: “The reports of my sacking from the Senate is not correct. I remain the substantive senator representing Anambra South.”