Friom Chuks Onuoha, Umuahia
The five man panel of the Court of Appeal, sitting in Owerri will today, December 2 hear the appeal filed by Sir Friday Nwosu against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Owerri, which cleared Ikpeazu of allegations of submission of false information and forged tax documents.
A source at the Appeal Court told Daily Sun yesterday that the appeal which was earlier slated to be heard on December 5 and 6 was brought back to December 2.
Our source also said judgment may be delivered on the appeal today to allow parties who might not be satisfied with its verdict appeal to the Supreme Court, as there were pending appeals on the same suit at the apex court.
The court would also determine two appeals filed by Ikpeazu and the PDP against some aspects of the judgment which held that the court had jurisdiction to hear the suit while Nwosu was also right to have commenced the matter through originating summons.
The court had earlier fixed September 22 and 23, 2016, for hearing and judgment, but when the case came up for mention on that date, presiding judge, Justice R.C. Agbo upheld the argument of the counsel to the fourth respondent, O.J. Nnadi, who said he was not served.
The case was adjourned to October 20. But on October 20, the court further adjourned to allow the Supreme Court determine a motion filed by Nwosu in which he prayed the apex court to take over the matter.
The motion was, however, struck out on November 8, 2016 which made the Court of Appeal to resume hearing on the appeal.