Appeal Court Justices withdraw from Owan Enoh’s case over N250m bribery allegations

Sen. John Owan Enoh

Justices of the Court of Appeal in Calabar, Monday, withdrew from hearing an appeal filed by Senator John Owan Enoh against the judgement of a Federal High Court that recognizes Pastor Usani Uguru Usani as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State.

This follows a petition by the Godwin Etim John-led leadership of the party in the state, accusing the justices of collecting N250 million bribe to swing judgement.

Speaking with journalists moments after the justices withdrew from hearing the appeal, counsel to Senator John Owan Enoh who is one of the factional APC governorship candidates in the state, Bernard Afu (esq), said they have been served the petition.

"What happened today is awkward, it is something that is strange to judicial proceedings. We were served with two strange petitions written by Godwin Etim John against the justices of the Court of Appeal."

According to him, "one of the petitions alleged that the justices have been given N250 million and the second petition did not allege any financial inducement.

"We addressed the court accordingly and the Honourable Justices of the Court of Appeal took a stand that they were withdrawing from the proceedings.”
Following the development, he said he expects that a new panel will be constituted constituted soon.