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SupremeCourt rejects INEC's request, retains Andy Ubah, Stella Oduah


http://www.bellanaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Stella-Oduah-Andy-Ubah.jpg The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on  Wednesday dismissed a motion filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking clarification on its January 29, 2016 judgment, which recognised the Oguebego led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State.
Candidates on the list submitted by the faction had approached INEC for their certificates of returns being the authenticate candidate in the parliamentary elections. 
A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, aligned itself with the position of the Ogubego led Executive  and  held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the motion.
In the read by Justice Nyang Okoro,held that the judgement could not come under Order 8, Rule 16 of the Supreme Court rules and held that there was no ambiguity in the apex court’s judgment.
He ruled thus, “The motion is not seeking correction of any clerical mistake or some error arising from any accidental slip or omission. May I say, generally too, that this court has the power to correct its own clerical errors or slip of the pen. Such power is exercisable in both civil and criminal proceedings.
“It must be clearly stated that it is not every slip or error in a judgment that would be allowed to undermine or derogate from an otherwise well-written judgment. I have seen the application by the applicant (INEC) and the issues thrown up for determination.
“I am of the view that this court has no jurisdiction to determine and pronounce upon them as it will have the effect of rewriting the judgment and in the process, making orders, which ought not to have been made in the first place. The judgment of this court is final by virtue of Section 235 of the Constitution.
The Supreme court stated it did not ruke on the question relating to the legitimacy or otherwise of the list of candidates submitted to INEC for the 2015 National Assembly election by the various factions of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State.

The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on  Wednesday dismissed a motion filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking clarification on its January 29, 2016 judgment, which recognised the Oguebego led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party in Anambra State.
Candidates on the list submitted by the faction had approached INEC for their certificates of returns being the authenticate candidate in the parliamentary elections. 
“From the issue before us, nothing has been shown, which is not clear in the judgment. It is wrong for anyone to import into the judgment, issues which were not ventilated and decided upon.”
He added, “For instance, the applicant is seeking clarifications whether to issue certificate of return to persons in the list of Ejike Oguebego-led executive committee. This was not part of our judgment.
“Also, INEC is seeking whether to do a fresh election to the National Assembly, as it affects Anambra State. This, again, was not part of the judgment. These are matters that have been properly ventilated at the election tribunal and the Court of Appeal. I am not aware that any of those matters are on appeal in this court.
“It is untrue that parties do not understand the import of our judgment. Where in the judgment did we state that the Oguebego-led committee should take over the functions of the National Executive Committee of the PDP so that it can submit a list to INEC? I think counsel are not fair to this court when they say they do not understand the judgment of this court, which was written in simple English language.”
Going by this ruling Senators Andy Uba and Stella Oduah will retain their seats in the Federal legislative chamber


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