ANAMBRA: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking For Soludo's Disqualification, Fines Petitioners

Recall that Valentine Adindu and Chukwuebuka Egwudike, had approached the court seeking for Soludo's disqualification on the grounds that he supplied the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a false affidavit.

According to them, Soludo in an affidavit submitted to INEC, stated that he was contesting the Aguata 2 Constituency seat when in fact, he was contesting the Anambra governorship seat and his deputy claimed to be contesting Awka constituency instead of Anambra deputy governorship.

The court had adjourned giving judgement on the case with suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/711/2021, to November 30. However, the earlier scheduled judgement did not hold as the judge was not on sit.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, December 1, 2021, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, described the suit as frivolous, irritating, baseless, lacking in merit and a waste of the court's time.

Justice Taiwo held that the two plaintiffs failed to establish how the alleged wrong in the exact constituency of interest affected or misled them as voters and in any other capacity.

He added that apart from the alleged wrongful disclosure of constituency, Soludo made it clear in other parts of his affidavit on oath that he was contesting Anambra governorship election while Ibezim also indicated in other parts of his affidavit that he was contesting deputy governorship.

The judge accused the two plaintiffs of seeking to use court as a tool to scuttle democracy. He awarded a punitive cost of N2 million against the plaintiffs which is to be paid to Soludo and his deputy, Onyeka Ibezim.