The Delta State High Court sitting in Kwale division has granted the request of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to contest the 2023 presidency.
The presiding judge, Justice DC Maidoh delivered the judgement on Thursday, May 12 and adjourned the case to May 25.
TrackNews reports that the court granted an order restraining the CBN Board and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from stopping Emefiele from contesting in the 2023 general elections.
According to The Punch, Emefiele had secretly filed an application on May 5, 2022, for a court order to enable him to continue as the CBN boss and contest for the Presidency.
Following the judgement, the court has blocked the CBN board and INEC from stopping Emefiele from seeking to become the next President in 2023.
The ruling read in part: “The court upon reading through the motion papers and hearing C.N. Ofiah Esq. for the claimants/applicants ordered as follows: I have read the processes in this suit, and the applicant has complied with order 39 of our rules.
“Applicants also deposed to an affidavit of urgency. From the processes before this court, I find that the said application at this stage has merit pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing. The applicant is to enter undertaking if the order sought ought not to have been made.
“In the circumstances, in line with order 39 rule 3 of our rules, this motion is hereby granted. The motion on notice is accordingly adjourned to 25/5/2022 for hearing.”
Meanwhile, Emefiele has reportedly withdrawn from the 2023 presidential race, weeks before the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
