The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement to a date to be announced in the appeal filed the national chairman of the caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Markafi and the Secretary, Senator Ben Obi.
In the appeal argued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Olanipekun, the appellants are asking the appellate court to set aside the judgement of federal High Court Abuja delivered on June 29, 2016 by Justice Okon Abang affirming Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the authentic national chairman of the party.
They told the tribunal that the trial judge erred in law by concluding that Sheriff was the national chairman of the party without giving them hearing before his court.
They also told the court that the action of the judge constituted a denial of fair hearing and subsequently led to a miscarriage of justice in the judgement.
Objecting to the appeal, counsel to the Sheriff faction of the party, Mr Beluolisa Nwofor, urged the court to decline jurisdiction on the ground that an appeal had been entered at the Supreme Court to challenge the decision of the Court Of Appeal which granted leave to Makarfi and Obi’s eligibility to file appeal in the case.
Counsel to the respondent, Nwofor told the panel of justices that’s since the appeal has been formally entered at the apex court and the motion for stay of proceedings also filed, it is automatic for the Appeal Court to hands off from the matter as a mark of respect to the court hierarchy.
