Court Of Appeal Affirms Senator Ayogu As APC Governorship Candidate In Enugu

The court of Appeal has affirmed Senator Ayogu
Eze as the governorship candidate of the all progressive
congress for the Saturday governorship election.

The Appellate Court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice
Abdul Aboki upheld the appeal filed by Senator Anyogu Eze to affirm
his candidacy as the rightfully nominated candidate to represent
the party.

In the judgment, the Court of Appeal set aside the judgment of
Justice Iyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja who had earlier
ordered inec to replace him with one Barrister George ogara as the
APC governorship in Enugu state.

Justice Aboki voided the Federal High Court decision on the
grounds that the suit brought before it had become statu barred and
not competent in law having been filed outside the mandatory
fourteen days stipulated by section 285 subsection 9 of the 1999
constitution.

The Appeal Court specifically held that the suit filed by ogara
at the trial court caught by the fourth alteration act to the 1999
constitution which as a new law makes it mandatory for all
pre-election matters to be filed withing fourteen days of the cause
of action.

In the instant case Justice Aboki held that the case was filed
more than thirty – two clear days after the primaries which took
place on the 4th of October, thereby rendering the suit to a mere
academic exercise.

Justice Aboki said that the failure of Ogara to file his suit
within fourteen days has offe ded section 285, removed jurisdiction
from the Federal High Court and made the case to be statu
barred.

The Appeal Court also said that “whatever right the respondent
may have in his suit has been extinguished by law” and therefore
has no right to benefit any longer from the case.

The appeal court therfore set aside the judgment of the federal
high court which ordered inec to remove and esponge Senator Anyogu
Eze’s name from inec list of candidates for the governorship
election in Enugu state.

NOUN Elects Professor Justus Sokefun Deputy Vice
Chancellor
The Senate of the National Open University of Nigeria has elected
Professor Justus Adedeji Sokefun as the new Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Administration).

In a statement, the institution’s Director, Media and Publicity,
Malam Ibrahim Sheme,revealed that Sokefun polled 48 votes to defeat
Professor Gbenga Ojo, who garnered 18 votes to emerge winner at the
election conducted during the Senate meeting held in Lagos on
Tuesday, 5th March, 2019.

Until his election as DVC, Sokefun was the Director, Lagos Study
Centre of the university.

He studied Law at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife) and obtained his Bachelor in Law in
1984.

Sokefun proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, where he became a
Barrister at Law between 1984-1985.
He enrolled for his master of Laws at the prestigious University of
Lagos in 1989.

He started his career as a Graduate Assistant at Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria, where he taught between 1985-1986.
In 1987, Sokefun joined the services of the then Ogun State
University, Ago-Iwoye (Olabisi Onabanjo University) until 2007.

Early in his career, Sokefun had exhibited great brilliance and
this earned him an appointment as a Special Assistant to the
Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation between
1993-1994, a position he held at a tender age.

After his meritorious service at the national level, Sokefun
became the Sub-Dean, Faculty of Law, Ogun State University,
Ago-Iwoye, from 1994 to 1997. He rose through the ranks to become
HOD, Public Law and Jurisprudence, in the same university from 1997
to 2000.

In view of his commitment to duty, Sokefun became Dean, Faculty
of Law, at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, between 2001
and 2007.

He joined the services of the National Open University of
Nigeria as a Professor in 2007.

He was Dean, Faculty of Law, NOUN, from 2007 to 2010, and was
appointed on the same position between 2013-2016.
Sokefun has contributed immensely to the development of the NOUN,
where he served in several capacities.

He also contributed in no small measure to the development of
the country. He served as Member, Committee on Maritime Dispute
between Nigeria and Cameroon 1993-1994; Member, Human Rights
Committee, Federal Ministry of Justice, 1993-1994, and Member,
Human Rights Enforcement Committee, Olabisi Onabanjo University,
1999 till date.
Sokefun has been a Professor of Law at NOUN since 2007.

He is also a Visiting Scholar and Foundation Dean, University of
the Gambia, 2009-2012; Lead External Examiner, (Post Graduate and
Undergraduate), National University of Rwanda, 2009-2014; Adjunct
Professor, Wisconsin International University College, Ghana,
2013-till date, and Adjunct Professor, Crescent University,
Abeokuta, 2011-till date.

He is also an External Examiner, Centre for Petroleum and Energy
Law, University of Ibadan, 2013-till date.

Sokefun is a member of several professional associations,
including the Nigerian Bar Association and the Nigerian Society of
International Law.

He is well published, with several chapters in books, journals,
and books too numerous to list.

Prof. Justus Sokefun is married and blessed with children and
grandchildren.

Signed:

Ibrahim Sheme
Director, Media & Publicity
NOUN