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The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, awarded the cost of N10 million to be personally paid by the lawyer to the All Progressives Congress(APC) candidate in last year’s Bayelsa governorship election, Chief Afe Babalola(SAN), and APC’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
Dismissing the applications for a review of its February 13, 2020, judgement which overturned the APC’s victory in the last governorship election in Bayelsa State, a seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta described the applications filed by the APC and its governorship candidate at the poll, David Lyon, as vexatious, frivolous, and constituted a gross abuse of court process.
Justice Amina Augie who read the lead judgement, said the applications amount to an invitation for the apex court to sit in appeal on its earlier judgement in violation of the Constitution.
She held that it would amount to violating the finality of its judgement if the applications were granted, adding that granting the applications would open a floodgate for the review of decisions of the Supreme Court.
“There must be an end to litigation, the decision of the Supreme Court is final for ages in a matter and only legislation could change it,” Justice Augie stated.
She said with tears in her eyes, she regretted that “very senior” lawyers were responsible for filing the applications.
The apex court ruled that each of the lawyers must pay the N10 million to each of the three respondents – the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Bayelsa State Governor, Duoye Diri and the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Lawrence Ewhruojakpo.