Court Shifts Judgment In Defection Suit Against Ayade

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday shifted judgement delivery in the defection suit against the Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade till April 7.

Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo shifted the judgement delivery to enable him to consider the implications of a Court of Appeal fresh judgment on defection and related matters.

A Court of Appeal sitting Enugu State a few days ago had ruled that defection did not constitute any known offence but constitutional rights of freedom of association as enshrined under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution is guaranteed.

The Peoples Democratic Party had asked the court to declare the seat of Ben Ayade vacate for dumping the party for the All Progressives Congress.

The counsel to the Cross River Governor, Mike Ozekhome SAN, had in a letter drawn the attention of the court to the Court of Appeal judgment and prayed the court to bow and respect the decision of the higher Court of Appeal.

More details later…