With abouth 5 months to the end of the current administration in Akwa Ibom state, legal battle over the office of the governor is still lingering. The Supreme Court today adjourned hearing in the case against the election of Governor Godswill Akpabio to January 7 next year.
The case was filed by Frank Okon against Mr. Akpabio, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Independent National Electoral Commission to protest against his alleged wrongful exclusion from the rescheduled January 15, 2011 primaries in which the governor was selected as the party’s flag bearer.
Wednesday was fixed by the court for the adoption of briefs by parties to the case before the final judgment.
But at the resumed sitting, counsel to Mr. Akpabio, Paul Usoro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had requested the court to allow him amend his earlier brief dated December 2, 2014, by substituting it with a fresh brief in response to the submission by the appellant.
To enable him file the fresh brief, Mr. Usoro asked for a brief extension of the hearing for a minimum of two days.
However, the court in its ruling granted the request by giving Mr. Usoro seven days to clean up the brief and conclude the filings.
