Says ex-gov lacks respect for judiciary

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

Governor of Bayelsa State, Seraike Dickson said Timipre Sylva, former governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no respect for the judiciary.

He claimed if Sylva had respect for the judiciary he would have paid him (Dickson) N500,000 as ordered by the Supreme Court.

Sylva and the APC recently filed a suit at the Supreme Court to appeal the judgment of the appellate court which upheld the election of the incumbent governor.

Sylva is asking the apex court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which dismissed the appeal seeking to overturn the decision of the Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal which upheld the election of Dickson.

However, Dickson in his reaction to the move by Sylva and the APC to sack him said Sylva lacked respect for the judiciary and particularly the Supreme Court.

Dickson’s reaction which was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson said that Sylva, who is known for allegedly holding the apex court in contempt, has reverted to the same court for justice.

According to him, the Supreme Court consisting of five justices in 2012, had in a unanimous judgment resolved in favour of Dickson, the two issues raised by Sylva for determination before awarding the damages which Sylva is yet to pay.

The statement read in part: “After Sylva’s futile attempt to challenge his victory at the Supreme Court, Sylva committed contempt of Court in 2012 by refusing to pay him the sum of N.5m being the amount the Supreme Court ordered him to pay him as damages for abusing court process and for wasting the time of the justices.  “Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, who read the lead judgment, was hard on the former governor for wasting the time of the court and awarded N500,000 as cost to be paid to Dickson, the third respondent, whereas the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP, who were listed as first and second defendants, were to bear their costs.

“Sylva is yet to pay me the sum of N500,000 as ordered by the highest court in the land, thereby disrespecting the apex court. It is therefore surprising that it is still the same apex court Sylva is returning to ask the Supreme Court to remove Governor  Seriake Dickson on the  frivolous grounds that the election which brought him to office was unknown to law.”