Emefiele Withdraws Suit Against INEC, AGF
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has withdrawn the suit he filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation over his presidential ambition.
Emefiele, through his counsel, Sylvanus Maliki, told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that a notice of discontinuance had been filed and served on the defendants in the matter.
Maliki, who held the brief of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said though the matter was scheduled for mention, they had Emefiele’s instruction to withdraw the suit.
He prayed the court to discontinue the suit and make an order striking it out, issues having not been joined by parties in the suits, citing Order 50 of the rules of this court.
Although lawyer to the 4th defendant, John Aikpokpo-Martins, opposed Emefiele’s intention to withdraw the suit, he urged the court to dismiss the suit with N1.5 million cost.
In his ruling, Justice Mohammed held that Emefiele had the right to file the notice of withdrawal. He said the notice of discontinuance was valid and accordingly struck out.
The Central Bank Governor had on May 9, through his lawyer, Ozekhome, approached the court with an ex-parte motion seeking the court’s interpretation as to whether he could run for the 2023 presidential primary while he serves as governor of the CBN.
