Ebonyi State Government has placated the Judiciary in the state with six brand new SUV Prado Jeeps.
The donation came after Governor Dave Umahi had described his sacking as governor on March 8 by Justice Inyang Ekwo of Federal High Court, Abuja as a “hatchet man’s’’ job.
His reaction sparked condemnation by the Nigerian Bar Association, forcing him to apologise to NBA and the judge.
The Ebonyi State government said that during its Executive Council meeting on Friday that it resolved to donate the cars to support the state judiciary on carrying out their duties.
Read also: Court sends Gov Umahi, Deputy packing over defection to APC
Umahi has been happy since an appeal court judgment in Enugu struck out an application challenging his defection to the All Progressives Congress.
“The Justices of the Court of Appeal in their unanimous judgment dismissed the appeal on grounds that defecting to another political party by the Governor and his Deputy has no constitutional consequences,” Umahi said.
Delivering the judgment, Hon Justice J. O. K Oyewole, said no court has the Constitutional powers to declare office of the Governor or his Deputy vacant except as provided by the Constitution.
“He said defection has no legislative or constitutional implication as to warrant their vacation from office. The Court further declared that provisions 221, 177, 285 and the case of Amaechi Vs INEC have no material relevance to the issue of defection having regards to the facts and circumstances of the matter.
“The Court berated as an aberration, judicial activism that does not comply with the rule of law and said it can only amount to judicial radicalism.
“The Court further stated that it is not the duty of the Court to infer what is not expressly contained in the Law or the Constitution as such inference violates the principles of separation of powers.
“It said the Court’s duty under the Constitution is to declare the law and not to make laws. The Court therefore dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit and awarded Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000) cost against the appellants,” the press statement added.
