By Ruth Oginyi
Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, on Wednesday said he has appealed the Federal High Court ruling which sacked him, his deputy, and other 16 lawmakers in Ebonyi including the speaker of the state assembly.
The governor said he has engaged the services of eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to proceed to Abuja, and another 10 to proceed to Enugu for the appeal.
The governor spoke in Abakaliki while addressing some residents of Ebonyi who paid him a solidarity visit at the Government House.
Justice Inyang Ekwu on Tuesday ordered the sack of the governor, his deputy and lawmakers of the Ebonyi House of Assembly for defecting to All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where they were elected.
But Governor Umahi speaking on Wednesday denied attacking Justice Inyang Ekwu who ruled over the matter, stressing that he has confidence in the judiciary.
“”I don’t want you to go against the law. What people thought is for evil, it has promoted your Governor to the next level. I want to thank Nigerians, I want to thank Ebonyi people.
“I am just here to say two things to you; one is to be very peaceful, number two is to tell you that we still have very serious confidence in the judiciary”, Umahi told his visitors.
“Speaking further he disclosed, “We have done the Appeal at Enugu and when I said that we have two judgments; I said that the judgment in Ebonyi state which has equal powers with that Abuja, I said we will obey the judgment in Ebonyi state, we will Appeal the judgment of Abuja high court, we did not say we will disobey otherwise we will not Appeal.
“”So, we are before the Appeal in Enugu and we are before the Appeal in Abuja and we have also filed a stay of execution over there. So, we are still the Governor and Deputy Governor of your state.
“”Do not comment against the judiciary at all, the same thing goes with the House of Assembly. Yesterday, I made it very clear that the Supreme Court has said that for any defection in of the legislative houses, the presiding officer who is the Speaker or the Senate President has the duty and not the court to declare the seat vacant. And so, we have an Appeal against that and our house of Assembly is still intact.
“”So, there is nothing to entertain any fear, go about your business very peacefully, and that we will never insult the judiciary, we have confidence in the judiciary and I know they will do the right thing and we have engaged 8 SAN to proceed to Abuja, we have engaged 10 SAN to proceed to Enugu.
“”Do not be angry about anything, it is for our promotion. What the people intended for evil, God has turned it for good. When it happened yesterday, God told me to be still and know that I am God. And so, you will see what God is going to do, Nigerians are fighting for us.”
