TheCable

A federal high court in Owerri, Imo state, has affirmed the election of Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of Abia state, ruling that the governor’s tax document were not forged.

Friday Nwosu, one of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia, had filed a tax forgery suit againstIkpeazu.

But the court dismissed the suit, saying Nwosu could not substantiate the claim that Ikpeazu’s documents were forged.

Nwosu had also argued that federal high court in Abuja erred in declaring Uche Ogah as governor-elect.

Ogah came second in the PDP primary.

Ikpeazu expressed satisfaction with the ruling of the court, describing it as a victory for equity, justice, the Nigerian judiciary and lovers of Abia.

“This matter which has been decided by the court is similar and of great importance with the one we are battling with in Abuja,” he said.

“I am happy to say that the learned judge affirmed that my tax papers were genuine.

“What happened is one of those distractions to set the state backward but this government will remain resolute in its development trajectory and programmes.”

Ikpeazu said he drew strength from the decision of the federal government that the situation in Abia was unknown to the law and the status quo should be maintained pending the determination of court proceedings.

The governor urged the people to remain law abiding, adding that he would not want the state to disintegrate under his watch.

Also reacting, Theo Nkire, one of the governor’s lawyers, said the court had proved that the tax clearance papers were not forged.

“The Abia Board of Internal Revenue through an affidavit before the court confirmed that the tax clearance papers were genuine,” Nkire said.

Similarly, an Abia high court in Osisioma also granted a motion filed by Ikpeazu for extension of order stopping the swearing-in of Uche Ogah as the governor to July 18.